Celebratory dinner marks 20 years of Shechita UK success

The campaign that unites representatives for the Jewish religious method of dispatching animals for food held its 20-year anniversary on Tuesday evening.

The event for Shechita UK brought together stakeholders from across the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the National Council of Shechita Boards and the Campaign for the Protection of Shechita.

In attendance were rabbis and dayanim from across the kehillah, veterinary and medical advisors, and representatives from the Conference of European Rabbis and the World Jewish Congress.

Guests heard from Dayan Menachem Gelley of the London Beis Din, Dayan AD Dunner of the UOHC (Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations) and Dayan Shraga Feivel Zimmerman of Kehilas Federation.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis sent a written greeting, praising Shechita UK for “fearlessly making the case in the media and political spheres that the Jewish method of slaughtering animals for food should be respected and protected,” describing Shechita UK as undertaking “crucial work for the future of British Jewry.”

Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) also wrote a letter, explaining how the campaign has been “instrumental in giving valuable advice to Jewish communities in Europe in their quest to continue living according to Halacha.”

Rabbi H Royde, writing on behalf of the dayonim, rabbonim, trustees and staff of Manchester Beth Din and MBD Shechita Services, noted how “since its inception, the organisation has been at the forefront for the defence of Shechita in the UK and Europe and is a vital conduit to protect our rights to carry out Shechita according to Halacha.”

Dayan Abraham David of the Sephardi Beth Din wrote that- “we fully support you on Shechita, which is vital to the community and makes the UK such a wonderful place for the Jewish People.”

Shimon Cohen, campaign director of Shechita UK, presented a history of the landmark achievements of the organisation, mentioning such highlights from the UK as well as countries throughout the world where Shechita UK has worked.

Cohen paid particular tribute to the late Dayan Ehrentreu tz”l and tributes were paid to the late Shlomo Winegarten and the late Michael Kester.

Henry Grunwald, previously president of the Board of Deputies and chairman of the working group of Shechita UK, also addressed the gathering, mentioning the success the campaign has achieved over the past two decades, highlighting the organisation’s ability to bring together many groups within the Jewish community, all for the purpose of maintaining Jewish life.

Shimon Cohen, campaign director of Shechita UK, said: “I have deep appreciation for the support and dedication that everyone involved with Shechita UK has shown over the past two decades. I am proud to lead a campaign that is purely dedicated to helping the Jewish community, “serving the community faithfully”, as the Jewish saying goes, all without fanfare, factionalism, or distractions.

“I constantly marvel at the united communal efforts of our group, uniting people from across our broad community and throughout Europe and beyond and with the singular aim of helping to support Jewish life. These last twenty years deserve a celebration.”