Jewish and Muslim friends team up to advise firms on inclusion

Two female leaders from the worlds of Islam and Judaism say their ten-year friendship and collaboration on interfaith issues has led to a business partnership whereby they now offer to advise companies on managing people of faith.

Bromley Reform Synagogue’s Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, who was senior rabbi at the Movement for Reform Judaism from 2011 to 2020, has launched the joint venture Clarity Partnership with Julie Siddiqi, a former director of the Islamic Society of Britain who founded the Sadaqa Day charity, which promotes a day of social action mirroring the principles of Mitzvah Day.

The duo said there was a growing need to help business leaders “navigate issues of faith and inclusion” and to “train them to understand how these impact their work”.

Although the initiative is in its infancy, the pair have already trained leaders in firms such as accounting giant KPMG as well as Innocent Drinks, as Janner-Klausner recognised a moral obligation to ensure that workplace differences were respected.

“We can no longer stand on the side whilst good people are mistreated, either on purpose, or mostly, unintentionally,” she said. “It is time to bring our voices and our experiences to the workplace.”

Julie added: “This work is so important. It is good to work with leaders who are willing to be brave and confront these issues head-on.”