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