Board of Deputies Community Briefing 21st November 2019 copy-min copy

Among attendees at the events were Mayor of Lewisham Damien Egan and prospective parliamentary
candidates from a range of parties.
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said: “We’re proud to have initiated an Invest in Peace
programme which presents challenging dialogues to packed and highly engaged meetings across the
country. This is about helping to export peace and planting the seeds of reconciliation.”
The Revd Peter Colwell, Deputy General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, said: “With
so much violence, hatred and suspicion in the world, there is a critical need for different faith groups to
come together. Our message to extremists on all sides is simple: You will not divide us. This project delivers
that message loud and clear.”
The events took place at Catford and Bromley Synagogue, North Western Reform Synagogue (Alyth) and
Dorset Gardens Methodist Church in Brighton, with a fourth event due to take place in Finchley. Each event
is jointly hosted by a church-synagogue partnership.
Board of Deputies Chief Executive Gillian Merron attended the event in Catford and Bromley.
ACTIVITY REPORT
INTERNATIONAL
President Marie van der Zyl, Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and International Relations Officer
Talia Ingleby met the Jordanian Ambassador, His Excellency Omar Nahar, to discuss peace, security,
religious freedom and interfaith relations. See a photo here
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb and International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby attended the
signing ceremony of the landmark 30-member Arab Council for Regional Integration, which called for more
direct relations with Israelis and repudiating those calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. Read the Jewish
News report here
Chief Executive Gillian Merron met Jon Benjamin, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Director of
Learning, Principal of the Diplomatic Academy.
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby met with Fahad
A. Al Binali and Hasan Moosa Shafaei from the Embassy of Bahrain, to talk about promoting peace and
security in the Middle East, and celebrating Jewish heritage in the Arab world.
International Relations officer Talia Ingleby met Christina Jones and Alexis David from the Israeli
Embassy to discuss grassroots support for Israel, and community engagement.
International Relations officer Talia Ingleby spoke with Dalia Grinfeld from the ADL to discuss areas of
cooperation and the challenges of combatting antisemitism and other forms of racism in Europe and North
America.
International Relations officer Talia Ingleby spoke with András Ligeti from the World Jewish Congress to
discuss continued collaboration between the organisations.
COMMUNITY
Education Policy and Youth Engagement Officer Jake Berger met the chairs of the Civil Service Jewish
Network (JNet) to discuss their programme of upcoming events. JNet is sponsored by the Board of
Deputies.
Chief Executive Gillian Merron attended the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast in Westminster. Israeli
Ambassador Mark Regev was among the speakers. See a photo here.