PaJeS National Conference advances diversity and inclusion in Jewish Schools

Educators from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and Leeds came together for the PaJeS annual conference for Heads of Jewish Studies on Tuesday 2 December. 

Held in partnership with the Board of Deputies and UnitED, the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs Jewish identity project, the event focused on teaching diverse Jewish history, culture, and practice. It was inspired by experiences of pupils in UK Jewish schools and the Board of Deputies’ Commission on Racial Inclusivity in the Jewish Community.

The day featured speakers including Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies; Stephen Bush, associate editor of the Financial Times and Chair of the Commission on Racial Inclusivity; Rabbi David Meyer, chief executive of PaJeS and Anna Silver, Education Officer at the Board of Deputies.

Highlights of the day included the “Lived Experience” panel, featuring Jamaican-born Simon Alberga,  Edwin Shuker, an Iraqi-Jewish international businessman and former Vice President of the Board of Deputies, Joshua Tal, originally from Mumbai and now based in the UK and Loretta Hodari, a black British/Afro-Caribbean orthodox Jew.

One delegate said: “A highlight was hearing from the panel (I had no idea there were Jews in Jamaica!) and coming away eager to incorporate this into our lessons to better represent our already diverse school community.”

Director of Education at PaJeS, Sharon Radley, said: “As educators, we have the privilege and responsibility to build school communities where every pupil feels valued, celebrated, and included. Promoting diversity and inclusion is not only a fundamental Jewish value but also a statutory duty within the UK education system. This conference brought us together to share ideas, inspire one another, and strengthen our commitment to an education that reflects the richness of our diverse Jewish heritage.”

Vice President of the Board of Deputies, Jeremy Michelson said: “It was exciting to hear the speakers talk about the cultural diversity ways in which Judaism is observed as well as the vital contributions that Sephardi, Mizrachi and Jews from all over the world have made to the development of Jewish life and practice.”