This Rosh Hashanah, we reflect on a year that has tested us, but also one that has demonstrated the extraordinary strength, resilience and vitality of Jewish life in Britain.
Our community has endured the most painful of moments. The terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue claimed the lives of Adrian Daulby z”l and Melvin Cravitz z”l. We also saw a wave of violent attacks including those in Golders Green that left many feeling shaken and anxious.
Yet Judaism teaches us that even in the darkest moments, we must never lose sight of hope. We are a people who rebuild, renew and look forward. As we enter a new year, we do so with confidence in our community, pride in our achievements, and optimism for the future.
Over the past year, the Board of Deputies has worked tirelessly alongside our partners to ensure that British Jews are protected, represented and heard. Since the Heaton Park attack we have worked intensively with government and partner organisations to shape the government response, including through our co-published paper: “After the Heaton Park Attack: Towards a Comprehensive Government Strategy on Antisemitism”. Influenced by our advocacy we have seen:
- Unprecedented investment in Jewish communal security and specialist policing, helping safeguard our synagogues, schools and communal institutions.
- Independent reviews of antisemitism in healthcare and schools, leading to action plans accepted by government, as well as a review of public order and hate laws.
- New guidance from police forces and the CPS to speed up prosecutions of antisemitic abuse.
- Expanding training on antisemitism among civil servants, healthcare workers, in education and in other workplaces.
- New laws to tackle the threat posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies, including proscription of the regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for which we have long campaigned.
This year has also been one of celebration of British Jewish life, with the Board of Deputies producing Britain’s first-ever Jewish Culture Month, showcasing the richness, creativity and diversity of Jewish life across the UK. Thousands of people attended more than 150 events, with leading institutions such as the British Library, The Whitworth, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Tate and the Southbank Centre joining communities across the country in celebrating Jewish culture and heritage.
I am delighted to share that next year’s Jewish Culture Month will run from 6 June to 5 July. We would love to see communities across the country develop exciting plans for events, exhibitions, performances, and learning opportunities.
This has also been a year of innovation in which we have:
- Launched the Commission on Disability Inclusion, which will help make Jewish communal life more accessible and welcoming for disabled Jews and their families.
- Strengthened relationships across faith communities, including through interfaith initiatives and dialogue.
- Ensured a strong Jewish voice is heard during local and devolved elections, with specialist manifestos and hustings, so that the concerns and aspirations of British Jews are heard loudly and clear across the country.
- Campaigned for the release of all hostages held in Gaza.
We are also grateful that, since this time last year, all the remaining hostages have finally been released. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone in our community who campaigned so passionately and persistently for their freedom.
As we enter 5787, let us carry forward both remembrance and hope; determination and optimism; resilience and joy. May the coming year bring peace, security and happiness to our community, to Israel, and to all who seek a better future.
Shanah Tovah U’Metukah – wishing you and your
family a happy, healthy and sweet New Year
Phil Rosenberg
President, Board of Deputies of British Jews