Board of Deputies Community Briefing 7th November 2019 copy

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COMMUNITY BRIEFING
Antisemitism is ‘killing the Labour Party’, Tony
Blair tells Board of Deputies dinner
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair this week told a
packed audience at the Board of Deputies
President’s Dinner that antisemitism in Labour was
“absolutely killing the party”.
Mr Blair was in conversation with broadcaster
Natasha Kaplinsky at a central London location in
front of an audience of more than 400 people. Also
attending were Home Secretary Priti Patel, actor
Tracy-Ann Oberman, who presented this year’s
appeal film, parliamentarians from across the
political spectrum, ambassadors, representatives of
different faiths and the Jewish community’s senior
rabbinic and lay leadership.
levels of Government, as I well know. Your presence
in our communities, and your advocacy of tolerance
is more important than ever at a time when many
British Jews are feeling uncertain about the future.
So I want to be clear – this Government is always on
your side."
She added: “We will always support the work of the
Board of Deputies, which has benefited each and
every member of British society. It has won you the
respect and admiration of many, myself included.”
In her speech, Board of Deputies President Marie
van der Zyl said: “Whether it’s the ongoing

Tony Blair, who received a standing ovation from the
audience, said: “Let me be frank, there is going to
be a complete battle in the Labour Party because
what has happened over these past years –
particularly over antisemitism – is absolutely killing
the party.”
He added: “I think in this election there will be more
people who look carefully in a non-tribal way – they
will look carefully at the candidates in their
constituency to a bigger degree than at any election
I can remember.”
However, he went on to say: “There are really good
Labour MPs that are standing in this election. People
I know, people I’ve worked with. People who have
stood up very strongly on antisemitism in the Labour
Party, and I want to see them supported.”
On Israel, he said there was “a need to explain
Zionism and the way Israel was created, and why it
deserves support today… Israeli democracy is a real
democracy”.
Home Secretary Priti Patel, who proposed the loyal
toast, paid tribute to the Board of Deputies. She
said: “The Board of Deputies has been tireless in
educating British society about Judaism, building
interfaith bridges, defending the interests of British
Jews, and confronting antisemitism in all its
awful guises. Your work ranges from the level of
individual communities and synagogues, right to the
highest
uncertainties over the General Election and Brexit;
antisemitism going unchecked in the official
opposition; far-right terrorist attacks on synagogues
in the United States and Germany; obsessive
criticism of Israel; or even risks to the UK’s supply of
etrogs – it has never been more important to have a
strong Board of Deputies, changing the narrative
and leading the fight for our community."
Marie also paid tribute to Tony Blair: “When Tony
Blair was leader of the Labour Party – and, indeed,
Prime Minister – there was not the slightest question
about any of the big parties being tolerant of
antisemitism. Tony Blair has long been a true friend
of our community, and he continues to stand
alongside us in our fight for justice. I know that he
shares our horror that a creation of the last Labour
Government, the Equality and Human Rights
Commission, has launched a statutory investigation
into whether the current Labour Party itself is
institutionally antisemitic. When the dust settles after
the election, I hope that the Party’s current – or
future – leaders will learn from his example that
things can – and, indeed, must – change."
The dinner was also addressed by European Jewish
Congress President Dr Moshe Kantor, Israeli
Ambassador Mark Regev, Board of Deputies Chief
Executive Gillian Merron and Senior Vice President
Sheila Gewolb.
Read the Daily Mail report here, the JC story here
and the Jewish News's here.
Let to right: Natasha Kaplinsky, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Tony Blair and Marie van der Zyl at this week's
President's Dinner. Photos: Sam Pearce

Board of Deputies President: Chris Williamson must now
be expelled by Labour
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has reacted to the decision by Labour’s ruling National
Executive Council not to allow Chris Williamson MP to stand for election as a Labour candidate in his Derby
North constituency.
She said: “The NEC ruling to bar Chris Williamson MP from standing again in Derby North is the correct
one. However, this is not enough. Labour’s leadership must now stop dragging their feet and act
immediately to expel from the party this disgraced politician who has baited the Jewish community for far
too long.”
Read the Evening Standard story here.
Welcome for Select Committee call for Government to
end two-child cap
Following the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s call for the Government to end the two-child cap on
welfare payments, Board of Deputies Chief Executive Gillian Merron said:
“The Work and Pensions Select Committee is unambiguous in its recommendation that the two-child cap
should be abolished, due to the flawed assumptions underpinning it, and the misery it creates in practice.
We have been advocating this from the start and, having witnessed the hardship that it has created, are
glad to see it recognised by the Select Committee. We call on parties aspiring to form the next government
to pledge to scrap the cap with all due haste.”
You can read the Select Committee’s full statement here.
ACTIVITY REPORT
INTERNATIONAL
President Marie van der Zyl, Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb, Vice President Edwin Shuker and
Chief Executive Gillian Merron attended the European Jewish Congress Executive Meeting in London.
Following EJC President Moshe Kantor’s introductory remarks, Marie welcomed the Executive, and
introduced the discussion with Lord Mann, the UK Government's Independent Adviser on Antisemitism.
Also discussed were the World Holocaust Forum 2020, updates from EJC affiliated Jewish communities,
including an update on Hungary, the Ukraine, Denmark and Poland, and the EJC’s Task Force on religious
rights.
President Marie van der Zyl and International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby met American Jewish
Committee Executive Director David Harris, and Associate Director of AJC Europe Julie Decroix, to
discuss continued cooperation of the Board of Deputies with the AJC, and areas of common interest such
as the global rise of antisemitism.
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb and International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby represented the
Board of Deputies at the Conference of European Rabbis Annual Award Ceremony for the Internet
Entrepreneurs Competition 2019, at Bevis Marks Synagogue.
International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby represented the Board of Deputies at a briefing by the
Strategic Engagement Team at the Department of Exiting the EU.

INTERFAITH
Following intervention from the Board of Deputies and the North West Friends of Israel, a church community
centre in Chester agreed to cancel a conference staged by a hate group. Read the Jewish News report
here.
Dates and venues have been announced for four Invest in Peace events taking place in November. Invest in
Peace provides the opportunity to hear the stories of two peace activists: one Israeli and one Palestinian.
The events have been organised in partnership with Solutions Not Sides and are supported by the Board of
Deputies and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) with the endorsement of Archbishop of
Canterbury Justin Welby. Click the links to book for the events in South London, Brighton, Golders
Green and Finchley.
EDUCATION
Tickets are available for Teaching Judaism GCSE - The Definitive Conference on delivering Judaism GCSE
to a high standard. This essential one-day event includes panels, workshops, lectures and interactive
sessions presented by leading Jewish authorities in Religious Education, and exam board representatives.
For more details and to book, click here.
The Jewish Living Experience (JLE) exhibition opened this week at Borehamwood and Elstree synagogue. It
is expectied to host 959 students and 99 teaching staff from Hertsmere and surrounding areas. This year
the JLEX committee, which organises school visits and local volunteers, led by Ruth Green, has achieved
record bookings and the exhibition has been extended until Tuesday 19 November. Education
Development Manager Sara Perlmutter delivered two INSET training sessions for more 25 volunteers
participating this year. More than 20 non-Jewish staff from Jewish welfare organisations will be receiving
bespoke training about Judaism as a living faith, to support them in their work.
On Thursday 14 November the JLEX committee, with the support of Education Development Manager
Sara Perlmutter and Education Projects Co-ordinator Jackie Emery, will be offering an interfaith
evening for local dignitaries, and interfaith colleagues. If you would like to attend, please email
jlex.bes@gmail.com.The deadline for booking is 7pm on Monday 11 November.
COMMUNITY
President Marie van der Zyl attended the Mikhail Fridman and Genesis Philanthropy Group's premiere of
the documentary ‘From Slavery to Freedom’, alongside the film’s protagonist Natan Sharansky. Community
Engagement Officer Lauren Keiles and Heritage and Archives Advisor Dawn Waterman also attended.
President Marie van der Zyl spoke at Kinloss Synagogue about the work of the Board of Deputies and
ways in which the Jewish community can engage with this.
MEDICAL
Government Affairs Officer Daniel Elton spoke at a Medical Examiner Officer Training Day at the Royal
College of Pathologists on how to ensure a faith-sensitive service when a loved one dies.
GOVERNMENT
Family Law Group Chair Eleanor Platt QC and member Sarah Anticoni met with the Law Commission to
discuss reforms to regulation of weddings.
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