Seeking to transcend the religious and political divisions among the United Kingdom’s Jewish communities, the Board of Deputies of British Jews released a plan on Thursday naming five priorities it intends to address in the next few years.
It calls for fighting antisemitism and defending religious freedom; standing up for peace and security in Israel and the Middle East; greater unity among Jews; more inclusive and outward-looking attitudes; and the celebration of the faith, heritage and culture of British Jews.
“The plan displays the fresh ideas, energy and drive of the new honorary officer team,” said Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies. “There is no doubt that our community finds ourselves at an inflection point, but we have resilience in our DNA, and I am determined that we will come back stronger.”
The priorities named in the report feature a bullet-point list of dozens of planned initiatives. One is the creation of a “Commission on Antisemitism” geared “to ensure focus on the issue and make recommendations to tackle the issue at root.”
“We look forward to working with deputies and all parts of our community towards a brighter future for the UK Jewish community,” said Rosenberg.
Also in the works is marking the 80th year of the end of World War II and the Holocaust in 2025.
The Board of Deputies has existed for 264 years. Today, it includes 300 deputies who represent approximately 200 Jewish synagogues and organizations.
