René Cassin works to mobilise the UK Jewish community as a powerful voice for human rights. Through education, events, and partnerships, we connect Jewish values with contemporary issues, from asylum and immigration to socioeconomic rights and campaigning against Uyghur forced labour.
Our community engagement work includes:
- Workshops & learning programmes that explore the Jewish ethical teachings on justice, dignity, and the protection of the stranger.
- Collaborative campaigns with synagogues, student groups, and partner organisations to take meaningful action on pressing human rights issues.
- Public events and panels bringing together legal, political, and faith voices to inspire advocacy and solidarity.
- Seasonal and cultural framing (such as Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Sukkot) that roots human rights action in Jewish heritage and lived experience.
By engaging our community in learning, dialogue, and action, we strengthen a collective commitment to justice, ensuring that Jewish voices are at the heart of shaping a fairer, more compassionate society.
The Right To Food
LJY has named Food Insecurity as its Tikkun Olam of the Year, recognising the urgency of food justice and its grounding in Article 25 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This commitment seeks to deepen understanding of food insecurity in the UK and drive meaningful change.
At spring camp, Rene Cassin facilitated three interactive sessions, immersing attendees in the realities of food poverty through imaginative exercises and collective discussions. The conversations championed enshrining the Right to Food in domestic law and advocated for a holistic approach to tackling food insecurity. While celebrating the immediate relief provided by community-led initiatives, participants also reflected on the long-term systemic changes needed to build lasting solutions.
The sessions explored Jewish frameworks surrounding food justice and highlighted the disproportionate impact of food insecurity on marginalised communities. Building on Rene Cassin’s campaign, Recipe for Rights, participants outlined key ingredients and a subsequent method of what we should demand, and how we can take action to make food access fairer and more sustainable for all.
Promoting a Compassionate Asylum System
“The film ‘Flee’ was a beautiful choice and powerful entry point to discuss issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers. This is a hard topic to discuss, but Libi and Lucja were both so knowledgeable and attentive to our group; they did a great job balancing emotional reflection with explaining complicated issues such as legislation around small boats. The space they created in such a short space of time felt meaningful and empowering, and I learned a lot, exactly the kind of event I want to see more of in the Jewish community. Thank you, René Cassin!”
– Individual attendee of the film screening, Moishe House Kilburn, 2024
Calling Out Genocide
Following discussions after Pesach, René Cassin continued to examine the presence of slave labour within UK supply chains. Guided by the BBC documentary Blood on the Shelves, attendees grappled with a critical question: What does it mean to be a responsible consumer?
One survivor’s words lingered—he had to “earn [his] freedom through labour.” The painful parallel to the inscription at Auschwitz’s gates underscores the fragility of freedom—how it has manifested throughout history and how it persists today. Just weeks after reading the story of Pesach, this discussion deepened our understanding of modern exploitation and the responsibility we carry as consumers.
We explored the motivations behind ethical consumerism, its role in global systems, and the practical actions we can take to push for change. Whether through individual purchasing choices or advocacy directed at larger supply chains, the conversation underscored a collective desire to act.
If you would like to get involved in Rene Cassin’s Community Engagement work, please contact our Community Engagement Officer, Libi Sears at libi.sears@renecassin.org