NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2007
BOARD OF DEPUTIES OF BRITISH JEWS
BULLETIN BOARD NOVEMBER 2007
The last month has been a particularly active
one for the International Division, with a particular emphasis on meetings with European
leaders and diplomats.
Board of Deputies Vice President
Meets Russian President
Flo Kaufmann, Vice-president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Chairman of the
Board of Governors of the European Jewish Congress met with Russian President Vladimir
Putin in the Kremlin as part of the EJC’s Executive delegation. Discussion topics
included concerns over nuclear proliferation and the situation of Jewish communities in
the EU and Russia. Following the meeting BBC Radio Manchester interviewed Flo Kaufmann
about the meeting with President Putin and the work of the Board of Deputies on its
programme “Jewish Citizen Manchester”.
The Board of Deputies hosts Reception
in Bloomsbury Square for the Russian Ambassador Yury Fedotov
Henry Grunwald QC, President of the Board of Deputies welcomed the Ambassador and stressed
the close historical and cultural links between the Jewish community and Russia. Board
Vice President Flo Kaufmann thanked the Ambassador for his work as a liaison between his
country and the British Jewish community and spoke of her recent meetings in the Kremlin.
HE Ambassador Fedotov expressed appreciation for the Board’s work and noted that that
“Russian and Jewish culture is mutually penetrated by traditions and the experience
of living together, side by side, for centuries” and hoped that productive relations
between Russia and the British Jewish community would continue.
Board of Deputies representatives met
with Ambassadors and officials at the Embassies of Slovenia, Poland, Germany and Portugal
as part of an ongoing round of discussions with European diplomats on matters of concern
to Jewish communities in the European Union. Leading the delegations was Chairman of the
International Division Flo Kaufmann. She was joined by Mike Whine, Defence Director, Liz
Harris, Public Affairs Director and Alex Faiman, member of the Europe Working Group of the
International Division.
A topic revisited in each meeting was that of
the 2009 UN WCAR Follow-Up Conference (also known as ‘Durban II’). Ambassadors
were asked to register British Jewry’s concern that the conference be guided by UN
General Assembly guidelines, and that demonisation of Israel will not be tolerated or
allowed to become the focus of the conference, while sidelining the important issue of
human rights abuses.
With the Slovenian Ambassador the Board
raised the issue of unclaimed former Jewish property in Slovenia, noted its
government’s efforts in connection with ongoing European initiatives to combat racism
and antisemitism and emphasised that all European countries need to improve the gathering
and analysis of data on antisemitism. At the Polish Embassy the delegation raised concerns
about the Polish priest, Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, who heads a media empire including Radio
Maryja, which promotes antisemitism. The same concerns were voiced to the Portuguese
Ambassador, as Portugal currently holds the Presidency of the EU. Thanks were also
expressed for the prompt action by the Portuguese authorities following the recent
desecration of graves in the Jewish cemetery in Lisbon.
During talks with the German Ambassador the
Board delegation thanked him for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s strong position in regard
to implementing sanctions against Iran and stressed the need for Germany to continue its
leading role in ensuring that the OSCE enact programs to combat antisemitism throughout
Europe.
31 October – Board Hosts London
Assembly Member Brian Coleman
The Board of Deputies hosted an informal lunch for Conservative London Assembly Member
Brian Coleman. Representing Barnet and Camden, the Deputy Chairman of the London Assembly
and former chairman of the Finchley Friends of Israel spoke on a range of timely subject
including the upcoming London mayoral elections, traffic congestion charges, policing and
crime surveillance, the Fire Brigades Union and plans for the 2012 London Olympics.
29 October – JWOLE travels to
Leeds
The Board’s travelling Jewish Way of Life Exhibition held its first civic opening in
Leeds. Hosted by the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, the exhibit is housed in Armley
Mills Museum and is aimed at schools in Leeds and the surrounding area. Guests attending
the opening included interfaith groups, members of other faiths and the wider community.
Trained guides are on hand to answer questions posed by teachers and pupils.
28 October – Board holds Jewish
Community Media Awards Seminar 2007
The Board of Deputies held its much-anticipated Jewish Media Awards Seminar featuring a
new array of workshops for community-based web sites and newspapers and a keynote speech
by Jewish Chronicle editor, David Rowan. New presenters included Danny Bermant of
Brainstorm Design, Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent for the Guardian and
former BBC announcer Clive Roslin. More than 10 prizes were awarded for synagogue,
community, smaller congregation magazines, newsletters, best articles and websites.
IN MEMORIAM
The Board of Deputies notes with sadness the recent death of Hayim Pinner OBE, z’l,
Secretary General of the Board of Deputies of British Jews from 1977 to 1991. |
