OPINION: A Census box for Jewish ethnicity will be helpful and healthy
"I believe ‘Jewish’ should be an explicit ethnicity option, and I am not alone," writes Amanda Bowman, vice president of the Board of Deputies.
Imagine you’re sitting in a hospital waiting room and have been asked to fill out a form which, among other questions, asks for your ethnicity. If you’re a British Jew you may find yourself pausing when you reach this question. I have.
I am British, certainly – and would be seen as white by most passers-by. But I don’t see myself as simply ‘white British’ in the same way I imagine many white non-Jews in this country do. So which box do I tick? ‘White other’? But I am British, so if I tick another box am I effectively suggesting I do not entirely belong here? It’s a difficult question. I know some people who shrug their shoulders and tick the former, while others end up ticking the latter. I even know of some who fluctuate between the two.
You may think the question is moot: after all, surely people can put ‘white British’ for the ethnicity question and tick ‘Judaism’ for the religion question. But it is not so simple. For one thing, beyond the Census, most questionnaires include only an ethnicity question, not a religious one. There are also a significant number of people who neither observe many of the tenets of Judaism nor see themselves as religious in the slightest, but nonetheless consider themselves proud Jews – ethnically Jewish. And that’s the dilemma.
I believe ‘Jewish’ should be an explicit ethnicity option, and I am not alone. In 2021, the Board of Deputies held a special meeting to discuss whether we should advocate for a change in the ONS data capture to include ‘Jewish’ within the detail of the ethnicity classifications.
The response was overwhelmingly in favour of change, for several reasons: not least that recognising UK Jews as an ethnicity would contribute to improved public services, better representation and a more accurate reflection of the nation’s demographic landscape. As a result, we encouraged those completing the 2021 Census to consider writing ‘Jewish’ under ethnicity and almost 68,000 people reported their Jewish ethnicity, more than twice the number from ten years earlier.
How exactly, you may ask, would including Jewish as an ethnicity help to deliver improved public services and better representation?
First, the importance of ethnicity recognition became evident with Covid-19. Data on the British Jewish community, particularly in the early stages of the pandemic, was not aligned with that of the general population. We also know Jewish people are statistically more likely to be at risk of certain genetic conditions. More accurate data on the health profile of the UK Jewish community can guide the development of targeted preventive care initiatives. Healthcare providers can develop educational campaigns and screening programmes to detect and manage genetic conditions more prevalent among Jewish people.
Second, recognising UK Jews as an ethnicity in public ‘records’ sends a clear message the UK values and respects our unique identity. I also believe it would facilitate better monitoring and response by the police and CPS.
We are of course aware our community is not monolithic: we have a variety of traditions, customs, and backgrounds, each contributing to the vibrant mosaic of British Jewry. Recognising us as an ethnicity acknowledges this diversity and encourages a more comprehensive approach to understanding our experiences. This can help to dispel stereotypes, foster intercultural dialogue and promote a stronger sense of belonging among UK Jews and broader society.
That said, changing the ONS data classifications to include Jews as an ethnicity would bring some challenges. Careful consideration must be given to definitions, criteria – and potential unintended consequences.
Changes need to align with the principles of accuracy and representation while also upholding the values of inclusivity and unity: ensuring, for example, people with links to another minority group do not feel they are being made to choose between key elements of their identity. However, rather than seeing such issues as obstacles, I see them as opportunities.
To find the best solution, I want open dialogue, collaboration and enhanced understanding between our community’s leaders and its members, and between policymakers and academics.
Ultimately, when any of us is sitting in that waiting room with that questionnaire, we all want to know it recognises who we are.
- Amanda Bowman is vice president of the Board of Deputies
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