The Board of Deputies
The Board of Deputies had another busy year in 2021, representing British Jewry on a wide range of domestic and international issues.
On the domestic front, the Board worked closely with the new leadership of the Labour Party – supporting them in the efforts to eradicate antisemitism in the party – as well as exposing antisemitism in other parties. The Board has also taken a high-profile role in challenging the BBC over its misleading reporting of the serious attack on Jewish teenagers in Oxford Street.
On a more positive note, the Board has been very active in inter-faith co-operation, for example by co-hosting an event in November in the context of COP26: Faith Communities’ Response to the Climate Emergency. The Board also produced a ground-breaking report on inclusivity in the UK Jewish community, the findings of which have fed into FRS’s own inclusivity programme.
On the international front the Board, while continuing to provide strong support for the State of Israel, has also addressed wider international issues of interest to the UK Jewish community, for example lobbying the Government and Parliament to take a stronger stand against the persecution of the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, and to be generous in accepting refugees from Afghanistan.
The Board continues its important core activities to meet the needs of the community, ranging widely from education to social action, to supporting smaller communities, to protecting shechita and Brit Milah, to working with the Muslim community to prevent coroners from delaying burials – and much, much more.
Your four Deputies have been active in the Board, including work on the Board’s finances and organisation, active participation in the work of the Board’s Divisions and promoting greater representation of diverse voices at the Board, including younger members of the community.
Ben Lewis, Felix Mara, Nina Morris-Evans, and Robert Stone
