Board of Deputies Community Briefing 4th July 2019 copy-compressed copy
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THE MINUTE NEWS<br />
COMMUNITY BRIEFING<br />
Williamson readmission is 'an utter disgrace'<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Vice President Amanda Bowman<br />
has condemned the readmittance <strong>of</strong> Chris<br />
Williamson MP into the Labour Party.<br />
antisemitism, Chris Williamson has reportedly been<br />
readmitted to the Labour Party. This is yet more<br />
damning evidence for the EHRC’s inquiry into<br />
antisemitism in the Labour Party.”
Amanda said: “This is an utter disgrace. Despite<br />
years <strong>of</strong> baiting the Jewish community – calling<br />
antisemitism allegations ‘proxy wars and bulls**t’,<br />
actively supporting people suspended and expelled<br />
from the party for antisemitism, attacking the <strong>Board</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> on the day <strong>of</strong> the Pittsburgh attack, and<br />
saying that Labour has been ‘too apologetic’ over<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Chief Executive Gillian Merron,<br />
and Jewish Leadership Council Chief Executive<br />
Simon Johnson, have written in the Independent:<br />
“Chris Williamson’s reprieve is a disgraceful step<br />
backwards in Labour’s half-baked ‘fight’ against<br />
antisemitism”. Read their article here.<br />
Call for Metro to apologise over antisemitic letter<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Vice President Amanda Bowman has called on the Metro newspaper to apologise after it<br />
ran a letter asking why “every criticism <strong>of</strong> Israel is considered antisemitic” and stating that “the Jewish<br />
people” hate Palestinians.<br />
Amanda said: "Anonymous, antisemitic rants are not worthy <strong>of</strong> publication by any national newspaper. The<br />
Metro ought to apologise for printing this awful letter and explain what policies it has in place regarding the<br />
printing <strong>of</strong> racist correspondence.”<br />
Condemnation for UCU motion on antisemitism<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Vice President Edwin Shuker has described the Government's two child benefits cap as<br />
"punitive, unworkable and unfair" in an opinion piece in the Hamodia newspaper.<br />
Edwin wrote: "The reality is that is just does not work. It pushes people deeper into the poverty that the<br />
benefits system is meant to prevent. It is extremely difficult to compensate for the loss <strong>of</strong> income by<br />
working additional hours, meaning that it deepens the poverty people can find themselves in, rather than<br />
make it easier."<br />
"Benefits are there to provide a safety net for those who otherwise would not manage to get by – yet<br />
innocent children are being unfairly disadvantaged through this regressive policy."<br />
He added: "The <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> has joined forces with over 50 organisations to campaign for an end to<br />
the policy. The ‘All Kids Count’ campaign is made up <strong>of</strong> welfare, poverty, religious and women’s charities,<br />
including esteemed colleagues from the Jewish community at Interlink and the Jewish <strong>Community</strong> Council<br />
<strong>of</strong> Gateshead. We will be saying that all children are equal and all are precious. It is time the Government<br />
recognised this and reviewed the policy in its entirety."<br />
You can read the whole article here.<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb (centre) met newly appointed Minister for the Middle
East Andrew Murrison at the Foreign Office this week alongside <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Chief Executive Gillian<br />
Merron. Key issues relevant to the Middle East and the UK Jewish community were discussed<br />
ACTIVITY REPORT<br />
EDUCATION<br />
Certificates have been presented to the first group <strong>of</strong> accredited education mentors. Chief Executive<br />
Gillian Merron presented certificates to the group. The new mentors are Yvonne Stollard, Nina Leigh,<br />
Sharon Coussins, Dorothy Sadlik, Mike Freedman, Jeremy Michelson, Doreen Samuels, Norman Randal<br />
and Eric Cohen. Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb was given a JVN certificate recognising her<br />
voluntary educational work.<br />
A Jewish Living Tour took place last week for 56 Year Eight students and four teachers from Norwich High<br />
School for Girls. Starting at Finchley United Synagogue (Kinloss Gardens), the girls had an explanation <strong>of</strong><br />
the synagogue and Jewish customs and practices, followed by a spell-binding talk from Holocaust survivor<br />
Eve Kugler. They enjoyed a kosher fish and chips lunch at White Fish Restaurant in Hendon, and visited the<br />
local shops. Teacher Andreas Emerson-Moering said: "Thank you for a great day in London at the<br />
synagogue, the restaurant and the shops. This is always a fantastic learning experience for the girls."<br />
Thanks to volunteer guides Leonard Silver and Frances Martin, Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb,<br />
<strong>Deputies</strong> Bob Vertes and Flora Frank, and Heritage and Archives Adviser Dawn Waterman, Education<br />
Projects Administrator Jackie Emery and Public Affairs Assistant Rosita Rybokaite.<br />
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg attended the New Schools Network Summer Party, which was<br />
addressed by Michael Gove MP.<br />
ANTISEMITISM<br />
Chief Executive Gillian Merron and Parliamentary Officer Joel Salmon represented the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Deputies</strong> at a consultation on antisemitism and religious freedom run by the UN Special Rapporteur on<br />
Freedom <strong>of</strong> Religion or Belief, and convened by the Antisemitism Policy Trust.<br />
POLITICAL<br />
Parliamentary Officer Joel Salmon met SNP MP David Linden to discuss countering antisemitism and<br />
defending religious freedom in society. David Linden is a member <strong>of</strong> the All Party Parliamentary Group<br />
(APPG) on British Jews, for which the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> provides the secretariat.<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
Chief Executive Gillian Merron attended the US Independence Day Celebration at the residence <strong>of</strong> the<br />
American Ambassador, Robert Wood Johnson .<br />
International Relations Officer Marius Bisch<strong>of</strong>f attended RUSI and the Britain Israel Communications and<br />
Research Centre (BICOM) joint conference to examine the UK’s Middle East strategy.<br />
International Relations Officer Marius Bisch<strong>of</strong>f attended a summer canapé and drinks reception with the<br />
New Israel Fund’s global CEO, Daniel Sokatch.<br />
INTERFAITH<br />
Interfaith and Social Action Officer Anthony Silk<strong>of</strong>f joined Jewish and Christian faith leaders on a study<br />
tour <strong>of</strong> Israel and the West Bank, where they met Israeli and Palestinian faith leaders, politicians and<br />
activists. The group also visited the Hand in Hand bilingual Jewish-Arab school in Jerusalem and were<br />
hosted for tea by the British Ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan. Deputy Ben Crowne was also on the trip.
SOCIAL ACTION<br />
Vice-President Amanda Bowman, Interfaith and Social Action Officer Anthony Silk<strong>of</strong>f and Deputy<br />
Ben Crowne attended the <strong>2019</strong> launch <strong>of</strong> Mitzvah Day, and participated in workshops on topics including<br />
interfaith social action, and upcycling.<br />
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