Deficit of nearly £70,000 reported by Jewish Leadership Council

For the first time in several years, the Jewish Leadership Council is in deficit — to the tune of just under £70,000.

The 34-organisation umbrella body, which has just released its Statutory Accounts for the year ended December 2017, attributes the shortfall to the JLC’s investment in education.

The specific investments are in PaJeS, the partnership for Jewish schools department, headed by Rabbi David Meyer. The JLC’s financial input in both 2016 and 2017 allowed PaJeS to expand and develop while providing existing services. But, say the JLC, “it was agreed that PaJeS should undertake these activities for the benefit of the community in advance of income being received. It had been intended that income would be received during 2017 but for various reasons, the income was slower to arrive than had been planned”.

Nevertheless, despite the overall deficit, the accounts show that the JLC’s core activity and projects traded at a material surplus, due, it says, “to careful stewardship, a managed reduction in costs and a staff restructuring to allow for investment in new priorities”. Donations, it reports, are slightly up on 2016.

Among the new projects is an analysis of residential elderly care in the community, a report on the provision of services on mental health issues among young people — and the overall financial sustainability of the community’s services.

Jonathan Goldstein, the JLC chair said: “The JLC invested heavily in 2017 in activities which contribute to the long-term vibrancy of our community, including education, social care, political activity and countering the delegitimisation of Israel. We have been able to do so thanks to the support of our members, the unstinting generosity of our increasing number of donors, and the professionalism of the staff team.”