Board of Deputies Community Briefing 7th November 2019 copy
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THE MINUTE NEWS<br />
COMMUNITY BRIEFING<br />
Antisemitism is ‘killing the Labour Party’, Tony<br />
Blair tells <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> dinner<br />
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair this week told a<br />
packed audience at the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong><br />
President’s Dinner that antisemitism in Labour was<br />
“absolutely killing the party”.<br />
Mr Blair was in conversation with broadcaster<br />
Natasha Kaplinsky at a central London location in<br />
front <strong>of</strong> an audience <strong>of</strong> more than 400 people. Also<br />
attending were Home Secretary Priti Patel, actor<br />
Tracy-Ann Oberman, who presented this year’s<br />
appeal film, parliamentarians from across the<br />
political spectrum, ambassadors, representatives <strong>of</strong><br />
different faiths and the Jewish community’s senior<br />
rabbinic and lay leadership.<br />
levels <strong>of</strong> Government, as I well know. Your presence<br />
in our communities, and your advocacy <strong>of</strong> tolerance<br />
is more important than ever at a time when many<br />
British Jews are feeling uncertain about the future.<br />
So I want to be clear – this Government is always on<br />
your side."<br />
She added: “We will always support the work <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong>, which has benefited each and<br />
every member <strong>of</strong> British society. It has won you the<br />
respect and admiration <strong>of</strong> many, myself included.”<br />
In her speech, <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> President Marie<br />
van der Zyl said: “Whether it’s the ongoing
Tony Blair, who received a standing ovation from the<br />
audience, said: “Let me be frank, there is going to<br />
be a complete battle in the Labour Party because<br />
what has happened over these past years –<br />
particularly over antisemitism – is absolutely killing<br />
the party.”<br />
He added: “I think in this election there will be more<br />
people who look carefully in a non-tribal way – they<br />
will look carefully at the candidates in their<br />
constituency to a bigger degree than at any election<br />
I can remember.”<br />
However, he went on to say: “There are really good<br />
Labour MPs that are standing in this election. People<br />
I know, people I’ve worked with. People who have<br />
stood up very strongly on antisemitism in the Labour<br />
Party, and I want to see them supported.”<br />
On Israel, he said there was “a need to explain<br />
Zionism and the way Israel was created, and why it<br />
deserves support today… Israeli democracy is a real<br />
democracy”.<br />
Home Secretary Priti Patel, who proposed the loyal<br />
toast, paid tribute to the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong>. She<br />
said: “The <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> has been tireless in<br />
educating British society about Judaism, building<br />
interfaith bridges, defending the interests <strong>of</strong> British<br />
Jews, and confronting antisemitism in all its<br />
awful guises. Your work ranges from the level <strong>of</strong><br />
individual communities and synagogues, right to the<br />
highest<br />
uncertainties over the General Election and Brexit;<br />
antisemitism going unchecked in the <strong>of</strong>ficial<br />
opposition; far-right terrorist attacks on synagogues<br />
in the United States and Germany; obsessive<br />
criticism <strong>of</strong> Israel; or even risks to the UK’s supply <strong>of</strong><br />
etrogs – it has never been more important to have a<br />
strong <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong>, changing the narrative<br />
and leading the fight for our community."<br />
Marie also paid tribute to Tony Blair: “When Tony<br />
Blair was leader <strong>of</strong> the Labour Party – and, indeed,<br />
Prime Minister – there was not the slightest question<br />
about any <strong>of</strong> the big parties being tolerant <strong>of</strong><br />
antisemitism. Tony Blair has long been a true friend<br />
<strong>of</strong> our community, and he continues to stand<br />
alongside us in our fight for justice. I know that he<br />
shares our horror that a creation <strong>of</strong> the last Labour<br />
Government, the Equality and Human Rights<br />
Commission, has launched a statutory investigation<br />
into whether the current Labour Party itself is<br />
institutionally antisemitic. When the dust settles after<br />
the election, I hope that the Party’s current – or<br />
future – leaders will learn from his example that<br />
things can – and, indeed, must – change."<br />
The dinner was also addressed by European Jewish<br />
Congress President Dr Moshe Kantor, Israeli<br />
Ambassador Mark Regev, <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Chief<br />
Executive Gillian Merron and Senior Vice President<br />
Sheila Gewolb.<br />
Read the Daily Mail report here, the JC story here<br />
and the Jewish News's here.<br />
Let to right: Natasha Kaplinsky, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Tony Blair and Marie van der Zyl at this week's<br />
President's Dinner. Photos: Sam Pearce
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> President: Chris Williamson must now<br />
be expelled by Labour<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> President Marie van der Zyl has reacted to the decision by Labour’s ruling National<br />
Executive Council not to allow Chris Williamson MP to stand for election as a Labour candidate in his Derby<br />
North constituency.<br />
She said: “The NEC ruling to bar Chris Williamson MP from standing again in Derby North is the correct<br />
one. However, this is not enough. Labour’s leadership must now stop dragging their feet and act<br />
immediately to expel from the party this disgraced politician who has baited the Jewish community for far<br />
too long.”<br />
Read the Evening Standard story here.<br />
Welcome for Select Committee call for Government to<br />
end two-child cap<br />
Following the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s call for the Government to end the two-child cap on<br />
welfare payments, <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> Chief Executive Gillian Merron said:<br />
“The Work and Pensions Select Committee is unambiguous in its recommendation that the two-child cap<br />
should be abolished, due to the flawed assumptions underpinning it, and the misery it creates in practice.<br />
We have been advocating this from the start and, having witnessed the hardship that it has created, are<br />
glad to see it recognised by the Select Committee. We call on parties aspiring to form the next government<br />
to pledge to scrap the cap with all due haste.”<br />
You can read the Select Committee’s full statement here.<br />
ACTIVITY REPORT<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
President Marie van der Zyl, Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb, Vice President Edwin Shuker and<br />
Chief Executive Gillian Merron attended the European Jewish Congress Executive Meeting in London.<br />
Following EJC President Moshe Kantor’s introductory remarks, Marie welcomed the Executive, and<br />
introduced the discussion with Lord Mann, the UK Government's Independent Adviser on Antisemitism.<br />
Also discussed were the World Holocaust Forum 2020, updates from EJC affiliated Jewish communities,<br />
including an update on Hungary, the Ukraine, Denmark and Poland, and the EJC’s Task Force on religious<br />
rights.<br />
President Marie van der Zyl and International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby met American Jewish<br />
Committee Executive Director David Harris, and Associate Director <strong>of</strong> AJC Europe Julie Decroix, to<br />
discuss continued cooperation <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> with the AJC, and areas <strong>of</strong> common interest such<br />
as the global rise <strong>of</strong> antisemitism.<br />
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb and International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby represented the<br />
<strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> at the Conference <strong>of</strong> European Rabbis Annual Award Ceremony for the Internet<br />
Entrepreneurs Competition <strong>2019</strong>, at Bevis Marks Synagogue.<br />
International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby represented the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> at a briefing by the<br />
Strategic Engagement Team at the Department <strong>of</strong> Exiting the EU.
INTERFAITH<br />
Following intervention from the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> and the North West Friends <strong>of</strong> Israel, a church community<br />
centre in Chester agreed to cancel a conference staged by a hate group. Read the Jewish News report<br />
here.<br />
Dates and venues have been announced for four Invest in Peace events taking place in <strong>November</strong>. Invest in<br />
Peace provides the opportunity to hear the stories <strong>of</strong> two peace activists: one Israeli and one Palestinian.<br />
The events have been organised in partnership with Solutions Not Sides and are supported by the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Deputies</strong> and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) with the endorsement <strong>of</strong> Archbishop <strong>of</strong><br />
Canterbury Justin Welby. Click the links to book for the events in South London, Brighton, Golders<br />
Green and Finchley.<br />
EDUCATION<br />
Tickets are available for Teaching Judaism GCSE - The Definitive Conference on delivering Judaism GCSE<br />
to a high standard. This essential one-day event includes panels, workshops, lectures and interactive<br />
sessions presented by leading Jewish authorities in Religious Education, and exam board representatives.<br />
For more details and to book, click here.<br />
The Jewish Living Experience (JLE) exhibition opened this week at Borehamwood and Elstree synagogue. It<br />
is expectied to host 959 students and 99 teaching staff from Hertsmere and surrounding areas. This year<br />
the JLEX committee, which organises school visits and local volunteers, led by Ruth Green, has achieved<br />
record bookings and the exhibition has been extended until Tuesday 19 <strong>November</strong>. Education<br />
Development Manager Sara Perlmutter delivered two INSET training sessions for more 25 volunteers<br />
participating this year. More than 20 non-Jewish staff from Jewish welfare organisations will be receiving<br />
bespoke training about Judaism as a living faith, to support them in their work.<br />
On Thursday 14 <strong>November</strong> the JLEX committee, with the support <strong>of</strong> Education Development Manager<br />
Sara Perlmutter and Education Projects Co-ordinator Jackie Emery, will be <strong>of</strong>fering an interfaith<br />
evening for local dignitaries, and interfaith colleagues. If you would like to attend, please email<br />
jlex.bes@gmail.com.The deadline for booking is 7pm on Monday 11 <strong>November</strong>.<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
President Marie van der Zyl attended the Mikhail Fridman and Genesis Philanthropy Group's premiere <strong>of</strong><br />
the documentary ‘From Slavery to Freedom’, alongside the film’s protagonist Natan Sharansky. <strong>Community</strong><br />
Engagement Officer Lauren Keiles and Heritage and Archives Advisor Dawn Waterman also attended.<br />
President Marie van der Zyl spoke at Kinloss Synagogue about the work <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Board</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Deputies</strong> and<br />
ways in which the Jewish community can engage with this.<br />
MEDICAL<br />
Government Affairs Officer Daniel Elton spoke at a Medical Examiner Officer Training Day at the Royal<br />
College <strong>of</strong> Pathologists on how to ensure a faith-sensitive service when a loved one dies.<br />
GOVERNMENT<br />
Family Law Group Chair Eleanor Platt QC and member Sarah Anticoni met with the Law Commission to<br />
discuss reforms to regulation <strong>of</strong> weddings.<br />
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