| BBC under fire after holding a debate asking whether Jews count as an ethnic minority. |
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| BBC’s Politics Live programme has been criticised for a “lack of sensitivity” after holding a discussion this week about whether the Jewish community should be regarded as an ethnic minority.
A Board of Deputies spokesperson said: “We were disappointed by the lack of sensitivity shown by the BBC as regards this discussion. Jews, regardless of whether they are at all religious or not, are subjected to antisemitism every day – and have been subjected to mass murder, in living memory, on the basis of their ethnicity. Our community should expect solidarity and support, not questions about whether we deserve any.”
Read the Huffington Post article here and the Metro report here. |
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| Becoming a Deputy – What’s it all about? Do you want to play a role in shaping the future of the UK Jewish community? Watch this video to find out how by clicking on the image above. For more information, please email: representation@bod.org.uk |
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| VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Moses Seitler |
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Moses Seitler is the founder and director of Screen Share, a volunteer-led initiative which promotes digital inclusion for young refugees.
When we think of refugees we often think of crisis, destitution and debate on immigration issues. Moses and the growing team at Screen Share are focused on another question – what happens when young refugees, many of whom are on their own, settle down and try to build a positive life in the UK?
Screen Share collects, wipes and redistributes laptops to young refugees who need one for their education. Education is a lifeline for many young refugees in the UK and without access to the internet they cannot find the right information, complete their college work or apply for scholarships. Laptops provided by Screen Share help to navigate those challenges and tell young refugees that their future is worth investing in.
To read the full article, click here. |
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| ACTIVITY REPORT |
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| COMMUNITY |
| Director of Operations Judy Silkoff, Community Engagement Officer Lauren Keiles, Regional Coronavirus Advice Capacity Help (Co-Ach) Manager Sara Radivan and Deputy and Co-Chair of the Board of Deputies Youth Committee, Sally Patterson attended the virtual JVN Awards Night. The Youth Committee was recognised as one of the best volunteer teams of the year.
Director of Operations Judy Silkoff and Community Engagement Officer Lauren Keiles met Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism, to discuss strengthening the work between our organisations.
Senior Vice President Sheila Gewolb and Vice President Amanda Bowman attended the Alliance of Jewish Women’s Organisation (AJWO) event, “As a Jewish Woman… – Personal stories, journeys and challenges with Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely”.
Director of Operations Judy Silkoff convened and chaired a meeting of the community’s Operations Forum, attended by representatives of 20 communal organisations.
Director of Operations Judy Silkoff and Community Engagement Officer Lauren Keiles met Dan Rickman, CEO of ORT UK, to discuss future areas of collaboration.
Regional Coronavirus Advice Capacity Help (Co-Ach) Manager Sara Radivan, Community Engagement Officer Lauren Keiles and Director of Operations Judy Silkoff met Michelle Ciffer, Children and Family Centre Manager of the Hershel Weiss Centre, Manchester and discussed future working together and strengthening our mutual relationship.
Regional Coronavirus Advice Capacity Help (Co-Ach) Manager Sara Radivan joined the Jewish Small Communities Network after Purim Melava Malka. Also attending were Omer Yankelevitch, Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Member of the Knesset and Tzipi Hotovely, Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom.
Regional Coronavirus Advice Capacity Help (Co-Ach) Manager Sara Radivan attended the Masorti Day of Learning.
Regional Coronavirus Advice Capacity Help (Co-Ach) Manager Sara Radivan met Jonathan Roland, Deputy for Manchester Menorah Synagogue to discuss further Deputy engagement and future work together.
Regional Coronavirus Advice Capacity Help (Co-Ach) Manager Sara Radivan and Community Engagement Officer Lauren Keiles met Mark Cunningham and Bernie Yaffe, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of The Fed, and discussed future joint working together and strengthening our mutual relationship.
As part of the Board of Deputies Bitesize Training, CST Chief Executive Mark Gardner delivered a training session to the Board of Deputies’ professional staff about the work the organisation undertakes. The training session also helps to strengthen the working relationship between the two organisations. |
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| ANTISEMITISM |
| Vice President Amanda Bowman, Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and Public Affairs Officer Daniel Sugarman met Caroline Dinenage MP, Minister for Digital and Culture, to discuss the upcoming Online Harms Bill.
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and Public Affairs Officer Daniel Sugarman met the public policy team at Facebook to discuss tackling antisemitism on the platform. |
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| INTERNATIONAL |
| International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby attended the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities Purim celebration with the communities of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and a keynote address by Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Co-existence.
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby virtually met with John Lyndon, Executive Director of Alliance for Middle East Peace to discuss the opportunities created by the Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA) in the United States’ Congress and the importance of international funding for peacebuilding across Israeli-Palestinian societies.
President Marie van der Zyl and International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby, acting in their roles as European President and Regional Director of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, respectively, attended the CJC’s European Regional meeting to discuss the impact of Coronavirus, the promotion of the IHRA definition of antisemitism and the publication of the CJC’s new manifesto ‘In Pursuit of Climate Justice’ aimed at combatting climate change throughout the Commonwealth.
International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby attended the Zionist Federation’s Lobby Day which focused on bias against Israel in the UN, featuring an address by Hillel Neuer, the Executive Director of UN Watch.
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and International Relations Officer Talia Ingleby held an online meeting with Leon Saltiel, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Representative at UN Geneva and UNESCO and Coordinator on Countering Antisemitism, Yfat Barak-Cheney, WJC’s Director of International Affairs and Lauren Rose, Director of Diplomacy and International Institutions, to discuss fair treatment of Israel at the UN and combatting antisemitism through multilateral organisations |
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| EDUCATION |
| Vice President Edwin Shuker wrote to Topmarks, an education resource website, welcoming its removal of a resource that contained inappropriate narrative of Jewish involvement in the Easter story.
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 RE teachers in England and Wales. Guest speaker was Dr Richard Kueh, Her Majesty’s Inspector, Schools and Subject Lead (Religious Education) at Ofsted.
Education Policy and Youth Engagement Officer Jake Berger attended a meeting of the Department for Education’s Faith School Providers Group. |
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| ECOSYNAGOGUE |
| EcoSynagogue Project Manager Andrea Passe spoke with Kim Cohen, Deputy for Northwood United Synagogue to discuss joining the EcoSynagogue pathway and specifically the role that the community’s young people can play in that process. |
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