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Bereaved Palestinian and Israeli parents speak at launch of groundbreaking 'Invest in Peace' initiative
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Left to right: Bassam Aramin, Jonathan Freedland and Robi Damelin at the Invest in Peace event held at Hinde Street Methodist Church this week. Photo: John Rifkin
Hundreds of people across three events this week heard two bereaved parents – one Israeli and one Palestinian - speak about their hopes for peace and reconciliation.
Robi Damelin and Bassam Aramin, of the Parents Circle - Family Forum were speaking at ‘Invest in Peace’, a joint initiative between the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, which invites Christians and Jews to support Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding.
There were three sessions, at Hampstead Synagogue – in partnership with St Andrews United Reformed Church; Hinde Street Methodist Church – with the West London Synagogue; and Muswell Hill Synagogue – with Muswell Hill United Reformed Church.
At the Hinde Street event, which was chaired by Guardian journalist Jonathan Freedland, Bassam explained that he asked his oldest son to swear an oath on the Quran never to use violence in the conflict following the shooting of his 10-year-old daughter. “Revenge and fear is the motivation to continue this bloody conflict.” Speaking about how “most Palestinians believe the Holocaust is a lie”, Bassam spoke of his journey which culminated in visits to Yad Vashem, and a Masters in Holocaust Studies.
Robi, whose son was killed by a Palestinian sniper, said: “Losing David was impossible for me but this is the best way I can commemorate my child, by educating.” She explained, “There must be a reconciliation process. If not, there won’t be peace.”
Board of Deputies Vice-President Marie Van der Zyl said: “While geopolitics shouldn’t define the relationship between Britain’s different religious groups, we often find faith communities at loggerheads on the Middle East and taking stances which cause division between us. Invest in Peace presents an opportunity for Christian and Jewish communities to export peace rather than importing the conflict and the success of these events proves that this is the right path.”
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. This is no less true that in relation to Israel-Palestine, where Jews and Christians often disagree, and cause each other pain in that disagreement. This approach aims to build bridges and create a sense of hope.”
To read the Christian Today story, click here and the JC story here.
The UK Jewish Hustings will be taking place on Sunday. See story below for full details
Dr Izack Ifat, one of the first Israeli soldiers to reach the Western Wall in the 1967 Six Day War, will be addressing Sunday's Board of Deputies meeting. He will also be appearing around the country. See the poster above for details
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Jewish issues to be debated at community hustings on Sunday
Tickets are now available for the Jewish community hustings which will be taking place in central London on Sunday May 14.
Discussing the big General Election issues will be Conservative Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer, Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, Baroness Ludford – Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Exiting the EU and the SNP’s Kirsten Oswald. We will be partnered by the JC for this event. Start time is 11am for 11.15am.
To take part in this vital debate at which the candidates will be discussing all of the issues of concern and interest to Jewish voters, click here. Tickets are free but pre-registration is essential. You will need to sign up before 12 noon tomorrow (Friday).
To read the Jewish manifesto click here.
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PSC event cancelled following Board intervention
A Palestinian Solidarity Campaign backed event featuring an author accused of peddling antisemitic theories on Israel and Judaism, has been cancelled, following Board of Deputies intervention.
Thomas Suarez was due to speak at the meeting, at the Quaker owned Friends Meeting House in Cambridge this Thursday.
Suarez has branded Zionism “fascist” and claimed its leaders encouraged antisemitism in Germany to force Jews to move to Palestine.
Board of Deputies President Jonathan Arkush said: “Thomas Suarez has repeatedly and unapologetically made statements comparing Zionists to Nazis. We approached the Quakers to make them aware of the nature of this booking. We are glad that, having considered the matter in line with Quaker values, the decision was taken to cancel the booking. We applaud this step, taken in solidarity with our community in the struggle against racism. It underlines that Quakers are more interested in peace and reconciliation than the hate promoted by Cambridge PSC.”
To read the JC story, click here
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Board of Deputies Activity
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EDUCATION
Vice President Sheila Gewolb and Education Development Manager Sara Perlmutter attended a meeting at the Jewish Museum to discuss education outreach programmes.
Education Policy Adviser Dawn Waterman addressed the Westminster Education Forum seminar ‘Implementing the Prevent duty and teaching British values – key issues for schools, colleges and communities’ on the education work of the Board of Deputies.
Chief Executive Gillian Merron met Judith Nemeth of NAJOS to discuss issues for Jewish schools.
COMMUNITY
President Jonathan Arkush spoke to Luton Hebrew Congregation.
Sheila Gewolb Spoke about the work of the Board of Deputies to the Southgate, Palmers Green and District Branch of AJEX. This was followed by a lively Q&A session.
MEDIA
Sheila Gewolb attended the National Union of Journalists event ‘Reporting Belief’ at BBC Wales, in Cardiff, which looked at how faith leaders can engage with the media. Sheila will be writing a short piece on this event for next week's Community Briefing.
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Jonathan Arkush paid tribute to Prince Philip following his decision to stand down to step down from royal duties. Read the statement here.
INTERNATIONAL
Senior Vice President Richard Verber congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his election as French President. Read the statement here.
Vice President Marie van der Zyl joined a trip to Krakow and Auschwitz with Dame Helen Hyde and West London Synagogue.
International Relations Officer David Walsh met a diplomat from the Armenian Embassy to discuss contacts between the Jewish and Armenian communities in the UK.
David Walsh met with counterparts from the National Federation of Cypriots to draw up a programme of cooperation ahead of trilateral meeting of the Israeli, Greek and Cypriot missions with respective diaspora organisations.
INTERFAITH
Jonathan Arkush spoke to the Bank of England Faith Network
Sheila Gewolb took part in a panel discussion at the Ahmadiyya Peace Conference in Luton on how people of faith are promoting the message of peace.
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