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Supreme Court President Lady Hale launches Board of Deputies Family Life and Customs booklet
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Lady Hale speaks at the launch of the guide this week
Photo: Gary Perlmutter
President of the Supreme Court Lady Hale this week spoke at the launch of the Board of Deputies’ booklet, Jewish Family Life and Customs: a Practical Guide.
Speaking at the Supreme Court, Lady Hale said that the Board of Deputies “should be congratulated” for producing a document which is “for all those legal professionals seeking to understand the Jewish community”.
In her speech, Lady Hale also praised her counterparts at the Israeli Supreme Court which, she said “deserves our support whenever we can give it to them”.
The booklet Jewish Family Life and Customs: A Practical Guide is intended for lawyers and judges who are working with Jewish clients and Jewish contexts who need a trusted resource that provides baseline understanding of Jewish practices. It is a new edition of a booklet that was previously published in 2006. In that time much has changed in the wider legal context – from marriage laws to coroners’ practices.
The launch was attended by more than 100 people, including senior legal professionals, parliamentarians and communal figures. Also speaking were Eleanor Platt QC, chair of the Board of Deputies’ Family Law Group and a co-editor of the guide; President Jonathan Arkush and Vice President Marie van der Zyl.
The guide is available on request in hard copy.
In Paris, International Relations Officer David Walsh (second from right), together with WJC (World Jewish Congress) Representative to the UN in Geneva and UNESCO, Lauren Rose, WJC staff member Itai Hacham, WJC JDCorps (World Jewish Congress Jewish Diplomatic Corps) member Andrei Schwartz met the UK’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Matthew Lodge, to express gratitude for the UK’s principled stance in the organisation and concern regarding ongoing politicisation pursued by a number of member states. The meeting took place during a broader programme of engagement with diplomats and representatives of UNESCO organised by the WJC JDCorps, a flagship programme of the WJC (see story below)
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Labour needs to heed BICOM briefing on Middle East Policy
Board of Deputies President Jonathan Arkush has praised BICOM’s briefing paper, Labour Party Foreign Policy in the Middle East – an Analysis, which was published this week.
Jonathan said: “BICOM’s briefing should be widely read. It is cogent and timely. As the report warns, if past form were to be repeated in Government, this could damage Britain’s interests in the Middle East and around the world. Cosying up to Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, the world’s principal sponsors of terrorism, would threaten Britain’s security. Such countries and groups must be challenged, not indulged.
“Like all political parties, it is up to Labour to convince the UK’s Jews that they are worthy of our support."
Read a full report here and the London Bulletin story here.
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'Grave concern' over Trump's Britain First retweets
Board of Deputies Vice President Marie van der Zyl has condemned President Donald Trump’s retweets of videos posted by Britain First Deputy Leader Jayda Fransen.
Marie said: “It is of grave concern that the President of the United States would retweet videos from the deputy leader of Britain First. They are a nasty far-right group which seeks to intimidate minorities, especially Muslims. We call on the President to delete the tweets and make clear his opposition to all sorts of racism and hatred."
Read the Jewish news story here and the JC story here.
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Board of Deputies Activity
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INTERNATIONAL
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg and International Relations Officer David Walsh visited Paris where they joined the World Jewish Congress Jewish Diplomatic Corps training programme. David addressed the group on effective diplomatic engagement and Phil led a discussion on enhancing the global Jewish effort around interfaith engagement and minority outreach. David and Phil also participated in a number of meetings with UNESCO Ambassadors and Officials. David led a delegation to meet with the British Ambassador to UNESCO. David and Phil repeatedly raised the issue of the politicisation of UNESCO around Israel and called on representatives and officials to return to UNESCO's core mandate. It was clear that many representatives and officials agree totally, but that a number of states continue to hijack the agenda. Phil and David also participated in bilateral and multilateral meetings with our French sister organisation Le Crif, discussing the impact of Brexit, the situation of antisemitism in both countries and the rise of extremism and populism on both sides of the Channel.
The Board of Deputies has expressed solidarity with the Jewish community in Belgium as it files a legal challenge to Belgium’s Constitutional Court regarding a law passed by the Walloon Parliament banning Shechita – the kosher slaughter of animals. Read a full report here.
President Jonathan Arkush and David Walsh participated in a working lunch with the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Darius Skusevicius, the Lithuanian Ambassador HE Renatas Norkus and Member of Parliament Arunas Gelunas ahead of the Litvak Days event organised by the Embassy to promote Lithuanian Jewish heritage. Jonathan Arkush and David Walsh subsequently attended Litvak Days.
Vice President Sheila Gewolb and Grassroots and Advocacy Consultant Steven Jaffe attended the book launch of Uprooted, by Lyn Julius, a historical account of the displacement of over 800,000 Jews from Arab lands in the 20th century.
Steven Jaffe spoke to leading Scottish Israel activists at a gathering organised by the Embassy of Israel.
INTERFAITH
Interfaith and Social Action Officer Anthony Silkoff chaired the inaugural meeting of the Jewish Interfaith Practitioners Forum, bringing together a group of Jewish professionals and volunteers involved in interfaith work. Phil Rosenberg also attended. If you are a Jewish person involved in interfaith work, and you would like to be added to the mailing list for future meetings/events, please contact Diane.Gies@bod.org.uk with details of any organisations you are affiliated with.
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Anthony Silkoff attended a day of dialogue between Rabbis and Methodist Church Ministers, organised by Revd Bruce Thompson and Methodist Friends of Judaism.
Anthony Silkoff attended a roundtable at Lambeth Palace to discuss how faith groups can help with the resettlement of refugees in Britain, alongside other partners such as World Jewish Relief, The Methodist Church, The Church of England, Salvation Army, Movement for Reform Judaism, and other Muslim and Christian organisations.
POLITICAL
Jonathan Arkush, Vice President Marie van der Zyl, Chief Executive Gillian Merron and Parliamentary Officer Joel Salmon attended the Labour Friends of Israel annual lunch.
COMMUNITY
As Vice President of the Board of Deputies and a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London, Sheila Gewolb attended an Evening of Faith Recognition and Celebration organised by the 3FF and Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London’s Council on Faith, which recognised ‘unsung heroes’ of London’s faith and belief communities. Award winners included Alyth (North Western Reform Synagogue) Refugee Drop-in project, which welcomes over 70 people each month; and Chaverim Youth Organisation, which has run after-school and school-holiday activities and leadership programmes for thousands of young Charedim for over 25 years.
EDUCATION
Education Policy Adviser Dawn Waterman took part in a round-table discussion at the Department for Education chaired by Ian Bauckham on relationships education, including relationships and sex education for older pupils, and Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE). Following amendments to the Children and Social Work Act, relationships education will be mandatory in all primary schools and sex and relationships education will be mandatory in all secondary schools. The Act is clear that faith schools will have flexibility in how they deliver these subjects so that they can do so in accordance with their religious ethos.
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