Board of Deputies Community Briefing 4th April 2019 copy-compressed copy

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COMMUNITY BRIEFING
Board of Deputies President calls on John
McDonnell to stand down from Labour
committee which ‘actively campaigned for
Jackie Walker’

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has
written to Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell
calling on him to stand down from his position as
President of the Labour Representative Committee
(LRC).
Marie wrote: “This organisation has repeatedly
defended and campaigned for individuals who have
a long history of denying the problem of
antisemitism in the Labour Party.
The LRC have actively campaigned in support of
Jackie Walker, who you will know was expelled from
the Labour Party over her comments about Jews
and the Holocaust. Indeed, she appears to remain
the LRC’s Equalities Officer.”
Read the letter here and the Jewish News report
here.
Reaction to Government home schooling register plan
The Board of Deputies has reacted to Government plans to launch a new register of children in England
who are being educated at home.
A spokesperson said: “The Board of Deputies supports high safeguarding and academic standards for all
children, wherever they are being educated. The proposed legislation, though, may be seen by some,
particularly in the Charedi community, as an encroachment on the rights of parents and religious
communities to educate their children in the environment of their choosing – especially where suitable
provisions are not in place in the state sector. We will be discussing with community stakeholders and
responding to the consultation in due course.”
Read the JC report here.
Community comments on Labour antisemitism arrests
The Board of Deputies, the Community Security Trust and Jewish Leadership Council have commented on
the arrests made by police last week in connection with Labour’s antisemitism crisis.
The statement read: “It is highly significant that the Metropolitan Police have now made three arrests in
connection with Labour’s antisemitism problem. This follows the passing of an internal Labour dossier to
Commissioner Cressida Dick by LBC Radio, regarding a single batch of 45 cases of alleged antisemitism
within the Party. We await the outcome of the investigations but ask why Labour had not itself alerted the
police. We are also concerned as to how many more cases remain unknown, and repeat our request made
one year ago to Mr Corbyn, that the party urgently appoints an independent ombudsman on such matters.”
Read the JC report here.
This week Deputies attended the first ever ‘Meet the Staff’ evening at the Board of Deputies offices. Deputies
were welcomed by Marie van der Zyl and Gillian Merron and were introduced to the staff team. They spent an

hour chatting to the team about the various ways they support the diverse work of the President and Honorary
Officers. We hope to hold further events so that more Deputies can gain this valuable insight
ACTIVITY REPORT
POLITICAL
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb, Chief Executive Gillian Merron and Parliamentary Officer Joel
Salmon met Suella Braverman MP. The Board of Deputies initiated the meeting following its criticism of Mrs
Braverman’s use of the term ‘Cultural Marxism’. After the meeting, a Board of Deputies spokesperson said:
"The Board of Deputies has met Suella Braverman and had a productive discussion. She is clearly a good
friend of the Jewish community. We believe she is in no way antisemitic and did not intentionally use
antisemitic language. We are sorry to see that the whole matter has caused distress."
INTERNATIONAL
President Marie van der Zyl, Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb, Chief Executive Gillian Merron and
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg met Neil Wigan OBE, the UK’s Ambassador-designate to Israel.
See a photo here.
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb and International Relations Officer Marius Bischoff met
representatives of the Paris bureau of the American Jewish advocacy organisation, AJC.
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and International Relations Officer Marius Bischoff met Sana
Knaneh, the UJIA’s new Educator on Arab Israelis, to discuss ways to further enhance equality for all Israel’s
citizens.
COMMUNITY
For Sadaqa Day, Vice President Amanda Bowman collected for Sufra Food Bank and Kitchen with GIFT,
The Hampstead Synagogue and Mitzvah Day.
Vice President Amanda Bowman spoke at Shabbat on the Hill at Muswell Hill Synagogue.
INTERFAITH
Treasurer Stuart MacDonald attended a vigil at the Ahmaddiya Mosque in Merton to commemorate the
victims of the Christchurch mosque attacks.
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg met pastors Clive and Jane Urquhart, and Jonathan and Helena
Croft, to discuss ways of celebrating and supporting Israel among Christian evangelicals.
CAMPUS
Vice President Amanda Bowman and Parliamentary Officer Joel Salmon met Sophie Dunoff, Director of
University Jewish Chaplaincy, to discuss cooperation between the two organisations and how we can best
support Jewish students and university staff.
HERITAGE
Archives and Heritage Manager Dawn Waterman visited the Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation.
TEAM NEWS
Mazal Tov to Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and Frances Abebreseh on their engagement this
week. We wish them and their families our heartfelt congratulations.

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