Mazal Tovs abound for British Jews in 2026 Kings Birthday Honours
Recipients include Ron Arad, David Dein, Henry Grunwald and Raymond Simonson
One of the UK’s most famous architects, the former Vice Chair of Arsenal, an erstwhile President of the Board of Deputies and the chief executive of the JW3 Jewish community centre are among those British Jews to have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List, which was publicised late on Friday.
Professor Ron Arad, the British-Israeli industrial designer, artist, and architect, has been awarded a CBE for services to art and design, while Henry Grunwald, who served as President of the Board from 2003-2009, received a CBE for services to Holocaust Remembrance and Education.
Grunwald, who recently stood down as chair of the National Holocaust Centre and Museum in Newark, described how “having lost almost all of my late father’s large family in the Holocaust, ensuring that future generations learn from and remember what happened has played a very large part in my life.
“It was an enormous privilege to have been Chair of the wonderful National Holocaust Museum. That was reward in itself. To receive a national honour for Holocaust education and remembrance is the icing on the cake.
“I am eternally grateful to the Smith family for having created the Museum – Beth Shalom as it was first known – the only Holocaust Museum anywhere in the world founded by a Christian family, as well as to all the trustees and staff who have made it what it is.”
Other members of the Jewish community to have received CBEs include Professor Ian David Abrahams, for services to Mathematical Sciences, Debbie Wosskow, for services to female entrepreneurship and to access to finance for women, Professor Stephen Rubin, for services to interfaith relations and to charity and Jonathan Sherman, a director at HMRC, for public service.
David Dein, who as well as serving as a senior executive for Arsenal football club was one of the key individuals behind the creation of the Premier League, founded the Twinning Project in 2018, a charity which partners local professional football clubs with prisons to rehabilitate offenders and reduce reoffending rates. He received an OBE for services to football and charity.
Meanwhile, Raymond Simonson, who has served as the Chief Executive of JW3 since it opened its doors in 2013, received an MBE for services to Jewish Communities and to Community Cohesion.
Simonson told Jewish News: “I’m the son and grandson of immigrants and refugees who survived persecution and the Holocaust and came to Britain with almost nothing. Their values of hard work and giving back to the community shaped me from an early age.
“When I started my career as a community and youth worker, I never imagined receiving an honour such as this, and I am profoundly grateful. What gives me the greatest pride is the opportunity to work alongside remarkable colleagues, volunteers and trustees who devote their time, talent and energy to strengthening community and building connections across wider society. I am privileged to play a part in that shared endeavour, and in helping to create a culture of encounter.
“At a time when division feels all too common, this recognition strengthens my belief in the importance of bringing people together through culture, conversation and community.”
3
Other members of the Jewish community to receive MBEs included Golders Green local councillor Dean Cohen, Amy Wagner, the director of the Tackling Antisemitism in Education Programme, Dawn Waterman, Education and Heritage Adviser at the Board of Deputies, and Alex Maws, Head of Education and Heritage at the Association of Jewish Refugees.
Councillor Cohen, whose honour was for services to charity and to the community in North West London, said: “Having the opportunity to serve the community in which I live and which my dad served as a councillor and mayor is a huge honour in itself. For these efforts to be recognised by The King just weeks after his visit to Golders Green is truly special and something I can’t wait to celebrate with my family and community. At the most challenging of times for Golders Green, when residents have shown such resilience, this will only spur me to do even more.”
Amy Wagner, who was recognised for services to the Jewish community, said that “receiving the letter informing me of this honour was one of the most unexpected and surreal moments of my life.
“Having spent more than a decade working to combat antisemitism, it has been a privilege to stand alongside dedicated and inspiring colleagues, particularly during some of the most challenging times for the Jewish community. I am incredibly grateful to the mentors who have guided and supported me throughout my career, especially Lord Mann, Danny Stone and Natascha Engel.
“As a proud Jewish woman and trustee of Maccabi GB, I hope to be able to encourage and inspire more young Jewish people to take pride in representing and giving back to their community.”
Alex Maws, whose honour was for services to Holocaust Education and Remembrance, said: “As a naturalised British citizen, I know firsthand how incredibly welcoming our country has the capacity to be, but my work to preserve the memory of the Holocaust reminds me that kindness towards the stranger can never be taken for granted.
“My own great-grandfather was murdered by the Nazis, so the significance of receiving this incredible honour amidst a backdrop of rising Holocaust denial and antisemitism is not lost on me. I hope that this announcement can, in some small way, shine a light on the crucial work carried out by our dedicated team at the AJR and by so many other treasured colleagues across the Holocaust remembrance sector.”
Dawn Waterman, whose MBE was for services to Education, said:
“I’m honoured, and delighted, to have been awarded the MBE. It’s an endorsement of the Board of Deputies’ work on education policy and heritage, including the archive project, Hidden Treasures, which brings to life the long history of the Jews in Britain”.
Other members of the Jewish community to receive MBEs included Rabbi Dr Norman Solomon, for services to the Jewish community and to interfaith relations in Oxfordshire, Claire Apel, the chair of Chichester district council, for services to the voluntary sector, to local government and to Holocaust education, and Michael Levy, for services to Holocaust education.
Russell Manning, previously the chair of the Leeds Jewish Welfare Board, received an MBE for services to the Jewish community and to charity. He said he was “incredibly humbled to receive this honour. Leeds has been my home all my life and it has been a privilege to play a part in supporting organisations that mean so much to so many people.
“Whether through Leeds Jewish Welfare Board, Leeds Jewish Housing Association, the United Hebrew Congregation, Macmillan Cancer Support or the wider community, I have been fortunate to work alongside remarkable people who give their time, energy and care to help others.”
“This recognition is not about one person. It belongs to all the trustees, volunteers, colleagues, supporters, friends and family who have worked so hard over many years to make a difference.”
Abigail Shapiro, co founder of the Tutor Trust, received an MBE for services to education.
On the Overseas and International Honours list, Professor Mark Coleman Poznansky received an OBE for services to UK/US Biomedical Research and Collaboration
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
