Board of Deputies Community Briefing 14th March 2019 (optimized)
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THE MINUTE NEWS<br />
Local councillors from North West learn about<br />
Jewish community at Manchester seminar<br />
More than 40 councillors from across the North West<br />
<strong>of</strong> England learned about the Jewish community at a<br />
Councillors' Seminar on Sunday organised by the<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong>, the Jewish Leadership Council<br />
and the Jewish Representative Council <strong>of</strong> Greater<br />
Manchester and Region.<br />
There were a significant number <strong>of</strong> council leaders<br />
and cabinet members in attendance, including the<br />
Executive Mayor <strong>of</strong> Salford, Paul Dennett. Many <strong>of</strong><br />
the councillors were keen to learn more about the<br />
Jewish community, especially in light <strong>of</strong> tensions<br />
between the Labour Party and British Jews.<br />
antisemitism and political turmoil. You can help Jews<br />
in your area by signing up to the Jewish Manifesto<br />
and its 10 Local Commitments, by consulting your<br />
local Jewish representatives and listening to both<br />
the aspirations and the fears <strong>of</strong> your constituents.”<br />
Marc Levy, North West External Affairs Manager <strong>of</strong><br />
the Jewish Leadership Council, said: “It is vital that<br />
our community engages with council leaders and<br />
local councillors. I am pleased that so many<br />
councillors have taken the time to learn more about<br />
the Jewish community by seeing first-hand the<br />
tremendous work being undertaken by so many <strong>of</strong><br />
our member organisations. I look forward to
The seminar covered a wide range <strong>of</strong> issues<br />
including the Jewish social care sector, Israel,<br />
education and the Strictly Orthodox Jewish<br />
community. Sector leaders from different parts <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Jewish community talked through their areas <strong>of</strong><br />
expertise.<br />
Among the speakers were the Chief Executive <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Nicky Alliance Day Centre, Michelle Wiseman, the<br />
Principal <strong>of</strong> Broughton Jewish Primary School,<br />
Rabbi Yehuda Perlman, the Director <strong>of</strong> We Believe in<br />
Israel, Luke Akehurst, and the Director <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> Services at The Fed, Bernie Garner.<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Senior Vice President Dr Sheila<br />
Gewolb urged Manchester councillors to sign up to<br />
the organisation’s Jewish Manifesto for Local<br />
Government and support their Jewish<br />
constituents. She said: “These are anxious times for<br />
the Jewish community in the UK, with growing<br />
continuing the discussion as to how we can work<br />
together over the coming months.”<br />
Jay Charara, Vice Chair and Public Relations <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Jewish Representative Council <strong>of</strong> Greater<br />
Manchester and Region said:" Considering the<br />
current political climate and the increase <strong>of</strong><br />
antisemitism in British politics, we felt that it was<br />
important to engage with local and regional<br />
councillors from all parties in order to present a true<br />
and accurate picture <strong>of</strong> the Jewish community in<br />
Greater Manchester and wider region.”<br />
Photo: <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Senior Vice President<br />
Sheila Gewolb with Executive Mayor <strong>of</strong> Salford<br />
Paul Dennett. Photographer Howard Barlow.<br />
For more photos from the event, click here.<br />
Proposed EHRC Labour investigation confirms that<br />
Labour leadership 'has a problem with anti-Jewish<br />
racism'<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> President Marie van der Zyl has reacted to the news that the Equalities and Human<br />
Rights Commission is considering launching a formal investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party.<br />
Marie said: “This proposed independent investigation confirms what the Jewish community has known for a<br />
long time: that the Labour leadership has a problem with anti-Jewish racism which it is unable or unwilling<br />
to solve. We welcome this development and hope it will now focus minds on the extent and depth <strong>of</strong><br />
antisemitism infecting the Labour movement.”<br />
Read the ITV report here.<br />
The <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> is recruiting a Jewish <strong>Community</strong><br />
Engagement Officer<br />
The <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> is recruiting a Jewish <strong>Community</strong> Engagement Officer.<br />
The successful candidate will be responsible for engaging with different parts <strong>of</strong> the Jewish community<br />
around the UK, including synagogues and community organisations; will look at how the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong><br />
can better support Jewish communities, make its work understood by them and find opportunities to<br />
mobilise grassroots community activism in support <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong>’ objectives.<br />
For a full job description and details on how to apply, click here.
President Marie van der Zyl hosted Friends <strong>of</strong> Israel groups from around the UK to express support for their<br />
work and explore how we can work together to make the case for Israel. Groups from London, Brighton,<br />
Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff were among those represented, alongside We Believe in Israel.<br />
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and International Relations Officer Marius Bisch<strong>of</strong>f also attended<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Chief Executive Gillian Merron joined HRH The Countess <strong>of</strong> Wessex to mark International<br />
Women's Day at Buckingham Palace. The Countess <strong>of</strong> Wessex spoke passionately <strong>of</strong> her work on Preventing<br />
Sexual Violence in Conflict. Gillian sits on the Foreign Office PSV multifaith working group.<br />
ACTIVITY REPORT<br />
INTERNATIONAL
The <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> hosted a briefing on the Israeli elections, with journalist Anshel Pfeffer and BICOM<br />
CEO James Sorene. Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb introduced the discussion.<br />
POLITICAL<br />
Vice President Amanda Bowman and Parliamentary Officer Joel Salmon participated in a roundtable on<br />
antisemitism with Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Communities Secretary James Brokenshire alongside<br />
representatives from other Jewish organisations.<br />
Parliamentary Officer Joel Salmon attended a roundtable in Parliament to discuss the two child cap on<br />
Universal Credit. It was convened by Alison Thewliss MP and attended by other organisations campaigning<br />
for the policy to be scrapped.<br />
EDUCATION<br />
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg attended Kantor King Solomon High School’s 25th anniversary<br />
dinner.<br />
Education Policy and Youth Engagement Officer Jake Berger met Peter Mitchell from the Evangelical<br />
Alliance to discuss recent government consultations in the education sector.<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb attended the annual JPR lunch at the House <strong>of</strong> Lords, hosted by<br />
Lord Howard Leigh.<br />
INTERFAITH<br />
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg attended a dialogue between the Church <strong>of</strong> Scotland and the<br />
Jewish community at the Church’s <strong>of</strong>fices in Edinburgh.<br />
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and Interfaith and Social Action Officer Anthony Silk<strong>of</strong>f met<br />
Philip Doyle, the new Director <strong>of</strong> Operations at the Council <strong>of</strong> Christians and Jews, to discuss Christian-<br />
Jewish collaboration.<br />
HERITAGE<br />
Archives and Heritage Manager Dawn Waterman visited the disused Jewish cemetery at Coombe Down,<br />
Bath and met Ann Cullis and Jane Briggs <strong>of</strong> the Friends <strong>of</strong> Bath Jewish Burial Ground.<br />
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