Board will ‘cease to be a member’ of the JLC
Deputies have been told 'In new framework, the Board president will no longer be an automatic trustee of the JLC, and the Board will cease to be a JLC member'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The Board of Deputies has confirmed it will “cease to be a member” of the Jewish Leadership Council as part of a new framework for the two main communal organisations.
Deputies were altered to the dramatic decision in advisory papers published on Wednesday evening ahead of the Board’s next plenary on Sunday.
In answer to a query on whether the JLC has shifted its stance on removing the automatic seat the Board has on their trustee board, and a further question asking if the Board should consider leaving the rival organisation, Deputies were given confirmation of the split.
It was confirmed:”The JLC and the Board are establishing a new framework to coordinate major strategic directions of both organisations.
“It is planned that the incoming Board President will be a VP (vice president) of the JLC and a JLC trustee will be invited to be an observer at BoD plenaries.
“In this new framework, the Board president will no longer be an automatic trustee of the JLC, and the Board will cease to be a JLC member.”
The announcement sparked speculation over its timing, with current Board president Marie van der Zyl nearing the end of her two-term stint, and elections for a new president taking place in May.
Some communal insiders saw the move as the latest attempt by the JLC to diminish the influence of the Board, and to send a signal to the incoming new president.
But others argued that with a general election taking place later this year, the Board, through its political advocacy, finds itself in a strong position.
Especially if, as is widely predicted, Keir Starmer’s party forms the next government.
But under the new framework, it was also suggested that making the incoming Board president a JLC VP was little more than a ceremonial offering.
Another communal source insisted it would now be down to the next Board president, with a new set of honorary officers, to “restore the relationship” with the JLC.
At the time of its founding in 2003, the JLC’s chairman Henry Grunwald, was also president of the Board at the same time.
But the council later moved to greater independence by electing its own chairman of trustees, while recognising the Board’s representative role by reserving a trustee seat for the Board’s president.
In 2013, talks began to unify the two organisations but this proved an impossible task.
Ex Board president Jonathan Arkush also argued four years ago that the JLC would become part of the Board as a “conference” of heads of community organisations.
But this plan did not receive significant support. Another JLC ex chief Jonathan Goldstein also argued the case for a merger.
The JLC’s current chair is the highly regarded Keith Black, with Claudia Mendoza serving well as chief executive.
The Board’s chief exec Michael Weiger has also widely hailed as one of the most impressive communal figures.
At last month’s Board plenary, the current president told Deputies that the JLC was proposing to end the special status of the Board at the organisation by removing the automatic seat on its trustee body.
Credit: Marc Morris
Van der Zyl said Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis one of the Board’s ecclesiastical authorities – had been asked to intervene over the plan.
A JLC spokesperson last month said the proposal had been approved by its trustees but must now go to the full members’ council for ratification in February.
A Board spokesman also said last month the issue was “currently under discussion between the two organisations.”
Jewish News has contacted the Board and the JLC for comment.
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