September 22, 2025
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Trouble at Leeds University, Part 3

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14 October 2024 Leeds University administration has now embarrassed itself three times over Israel/Palestine. First, it took back as Leeds University Chaplain, Zecharia Deutsch, who enrolled in the IDF and made statements endorsing Israel’s “plausible case of genocide” (International Court of Justice) in Gaza.

Second, it has stripped James Dickins of his Emeritus Professor privileges, following a demand by Emma Levy, President of Leeds Universities Jewish Society (JSoc), that the University cut its ties with him, when he was falsely accused of having leaked the address of the JSoc centre, Hillel House.

Third, it recently appointed to replace Zecharia Deutsch, a new Jewish chaplain, Sonia Pariente, who repeatedly posted appalling racist, anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic material online.

Yorkshire University Rabbis Dismissed Following Discovery of Anti-Islamic Social Media Posts

By Ayesha Malik

October 11, 2024

• Ariel and Sonia Pariente were dismissed from their roles by the University Jewish Chaplaincy after some abhorrent social media posts from Mrs Pariente surfaced.

• These included “biblical punishment” for Palestinians. Students at the University of Leeds are campaigning for the removal of UJC employees.

Ariel and Sonia Pariente were appointed by the University Jewish Chaplaincy (UJC) to support students at universities, including Leeds and York.

However, social media posts from Mrs. Pariente prior to her appointment included claims that deaths in Gaza were fabricated and shared calls for increased “biblical punishment” for Palestinians. She also referenced “Pallywood,” a deeply offensive and grotesque  term that suggests Palestinians have staged their suffering during Israeli military actions.

One of the posts reshared by Sonia Pariente last November stated: “The life of an Israeli has a higher value than the life of a pali”. In another post last October, she stated that nobody would want to adopt a Palestinian child.

Student groups said they had come across a dozens more “vitriolic posts” and demanded the immediate removal of the couple from Leeds. They asserted it was part of their “ongoing fight against the University’s complicity in the Zionist assault on the colonised people of Palestine and the people of Lebanon, Yemen and Syria.”

Students involved in Palestine support groups at the University of Leeds are now advocating for the removal of UJC employees, a decision the University cannot influence, and are instead urging the appointment of a local rabbi to support students.

The University of Leeds confirmed that neither Rabbi Pariente nor Mrs. Pariente will be providing chaplaincy support following the revelation of the posts. A spokesperson stated: “The University Jewish Chaplaincy has confirmed to us that this matter has been dealt with and that it no longer employs the chaplains for the Leeds and Yorkshire region. We welcome the swift action taken by UJC. We remain committed to providing support to all students and staff during this incredibly difficult time and condemn views or actions that deliberately seek to exclude or make Muslim, Jewish, or any other people unwelcome on campus.”

This incident follows a former chaplain  at the University, Zecharia Deutsch, also hired by the UJC, who served as a reservist in the IDF. Deutsch resigned from his role upon his return from Israel as he was met with much hostility. 

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