Board of Deputies Community Briefing 5th December 2019 copy

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COMMUNITY BRIEFING
Parliamentary candidates sign up to the Board
of Deputies’ Ten Commitments as thousands
attend Jewish hustings around the country.
Left to right: Naz Shah, Robert Jenrick and Chuka Umunna debate election issues with chair Tamara Cohen at
the 2019 Hustings, held at JW3 last night
Parliamentary candidates from across the UK’s main
political parties have expressed public support for
the Board of Deputies’ Ten Commitments, which
outline key pledges on issues important to both the
Jewish community and society at large.
The pledges include ‘opposing extremism and hate
“It is notable and gratifying that in most of the key
battleground seats with a significant Jewish
population, most of the main candidates have
signed up.
“We have also been pleased to receive support from
candidates in seats where there are much smaller

crime’, ‘defending the right to a Jewish way of life’
and ‘supporting efforts to remember and understand
the Holocaust’. They also include points on
supporting the provision of religiously sensitive
social care services, supporting efforts to create a
more just and sustainable future and resisting
boycotts that divide communities.
The full list of candidates who have publicly
expressed support for the Ten Commitments can be
found on the Board of Deputies website here;
candidates who would like to be included are
encouraged to tweet a picture of themselves holding
up a printed version of the Ten Commitments, along
with the #TenCommitments hashtag and including
the @BoardofDeputies Twitter handle.
Commenting on support for the Ten Commitments,
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said:
‘In an increasingly bitter political climate, it is
encouraging to see that politicians of all parties can
come together to support British Jews.
Jewish populations. We will continue to promote the
Jewish Manifesto in the last week of the election and
beyond.
‘The Ten Commitments encapsulate points of
concern to our Jewish community – not just on
matters specific to Jews, but on policies which
affect the UK as a whole.’
You can read the Jewish Manifesto here.
Around 2,000 people have so far attended hustings
organised by the Jewish community across the
country. The national hustings which took place at
the JW3 Community Centre in partnership with the
JLC, the London Jewish Forum and the Jewish
News, featured Robert Jenrick for the Conservatives,
Naz Shah for Labour and Chuka Umunna for the
Liberal Democrats. Hustings have also been held
around London and Hertfordshire, as well as in
Manchester, Liverpool, Southport, Glasgow,
Birmingham and Hove. Click here for details of
upcoming hustings
Board of Deputies honoured in JVN Celebration of
Volunteering Awards
The Board of Deputies won a Volunteer Team of the Year award at the JVN Celebration of Volunteering
Awards held in London last night. The award honoured the Accreditation Development Mentor Team which,
according to the citation, "has given over two years of their valuable time, expertise and commitment".
Also honoured for her work for the Board of Deputies was Dorothy Sadlik, who was given a Lifetime
Achievement Award for her many years of voluntary work for the organisation.

Board of Deputies Education Development Manager Sara Perlmutter (left) and Chief Executive Gillian Merron
with the JVN award
Marie van der Zyl reacts to Jeremy Corbyn interview on
ITV
Board of Deputies of British Jews President Marie van der Zyl has reacted to Jeremy Corbyn’s comments
made to Philip Schofield on ITV this week.
Marie said: “In an appearance on ITV, after again being asked five times for an apology on his party’s
inability to deal with the antisemitism in its ranks, Mr Corbyn finally said he was ‘very sorry for everything
that has happened’, but immediately added ‘I am dealing with it. I have dealt with it. Other parties are also
affected by antisemitism.’
“Thousands of complaints have been made to Labour about cases of antisemitism from members; the 130
open cases often cited ignores many cases in which members were let off with a slap on the wrist for the
most egregious antisemitism.
“Mr Corbyn has not dealt with it in the past few years; whether he will deal with it now remains to be seen.
While we can and do criticise cases of antisemitism from other parties when these arise, we would resist
any attempt to deflect from Labour’s antisemitism problem by claiming that any serious rival party has the
same issue with Jew-hate. When it comes to antisemitism, no other mainstream party in British society has
anything close to Labour’s current problem.”

ACTIVITY REPORT
GENERAL ELECTION HUSTINGS
President Marie van der Zyl and Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg attended community hustings
for the Hendon constituency at Hendon United Synagogue hosted jointly by the synagogue, the Board of
Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council and the London Jewish Forum.
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb addressed the Southport Hustings at Southport Hebrew
Congregation.
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg attended a Birmingham-wide community hustings at Singer’s Hill
Synagogue.
Vice President Edwin Shuker and Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg attended community hustings
for the Chipping Barnet constituency at JCoSS jointly hosted by Barnet United Synagogue and Shaarei
Tzedek North London Reform Synagogue, the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council and the
London Jewish Forum.
Vice President Amanda Bowman, Chief Executive Gillian Merron and Public Affairs Director Phil
Rosenberg attended a national Jewish Community Hustings at JW3, jointly hosted by the Board of
Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Jewish News.
International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby and Communications Officer Simon Round attended
hustings for the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency, jointly hosted by Muswell Hill Synagogue, the
Board of Deputies, the JLC and the London Jewish Forum.
Education Policy and Youth Engagement Officer Jake Berger attended hustings at Lauderdale Road
Synagogue for the Westminster North constituency hosted jointly by the synagogue, the Board of Deputies,
the Jewish Leadership Council and the London Jewish Forum.
Education Policy and Youth Engagement Officer Jake Berger attended hustings at Radlett United
Synagogue for the Hertsmere constituency hosted jointly by the synagogue the Board of Deputies, the
Jewish Leadership Council and the London Jewish Forum.
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb and Community Engagement Officer Lauren Keiles attended the
hustings at Pinner Synagogue for Harrow West and Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner constituencies hosted
jointly by the synagogue, the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council and the London Jewish
Forum.
Interfaith and Social Action Officer Anthony Silkoff attended the Hove hustings, organised by the Board
of Deputies, Sussex Jewish Representative Council and Sussex Friends of Israel. It was chaired by Fiona
Sharpe, with candidates Robert Nemeth (Conservatives), Ollie Sykes (Green), Charlotte Sabel
(Independent), Peter Kyle (Labour) and Beatrice Bass (Liberal Democrats).
Public Affairs Officer Daniel Sugarman attended a hustings for the constituency of Ilford North, held at
the Redbridge Jewish community centre, hosted jointly by the community centre, the Board of Deputies,
the Jewish Leadership Council and the London Jewish Forum.
Public Affairs Officer Daniel Sugarman attended a hustings for the constituency of Enfield Southgate,
held at Cockfosters and North Southgate Synagogue, hosted jointly by the synagogue, the Board of
Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council and the London Jewish Forum.
Public Affairs Officer Daniel Sugarman attended a hustings for the Constituency of Finchley & Golders
Green, held at Alyth Synagogue, hosted jointly by the synagogue, the Board of Deputies, the Jewish
Leadership Council and the London Jewish Forum.
Director of Finance Brian Markeson attended a hustings at Watford and District Synagogue for the
Watford constituency, hosted jointly by the synagogue, the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Leadership

Council and the London Jewish Forum.
INTERNATIONAL
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb has reacted to the decision of the French National Assembly to
adopt the internationally recognised definition of antisemitism. Sheila said: “We warmly welcome the French
National Assembly’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. It will bring invaluable clarity and
consistency in understanding prosecuting contemporary antisemitism, which is on the rise throughout
Europe.”
GOVERNMENT
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg held discussions with officials at the Ministry for Housing,
Communities and Local Government about community cohesion.
COMMUNITY
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg enjoyed an inspiring visit to the new Jewish community on Canvey
Island, hosted by Joel Friedman of the Interlink Foundation, where Phil visited communal institutions.
Community Engagement Officer Lauren Keiles met Gordon Globe of the Merseyside Representative
Council to discuss future work together.
International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby met Jeremy Havardi of B’nai Brith to discuss continued
cooperation between the Board of Deputies and B’nai Brith.
EDUCATION
The Jewish Living Experience exhibition opened this week at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in
Carlisle city centre, in partnership with Liberal Judaism. Local schools, educators and members of the
public are invited to visit the exhibition to learn about Judaism and Jewish life in Britain.
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb attended an executive meeting of the National Association of
Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education (NASACRE) which works to support all SACREs in
England and Wales. Issues discussed included the new Development Plan for 2019-2022 and the annual
conference on 18 May in central London.
Education Policy and Youth Engagement Officer Jake Berger gave a talk for the Jewish Society at City
of London School. The talk was a part of UJIA JAMS (Jewish Activities in Mainstream Schools) programme.
EVENTS
Vice President Sheila Gewolb attended the annual London Reception at the RAF Museum Hendon, where
Jewish pilots who served in the Second Waorld War were celebrated as ‘Hidden Heroes’.
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