Progressive rabbis join fellow faith leaders to warn against Brexit

Senior rabbis the Reform and Liberal movements have joined dozens of faith leaders in warning against Britain leaving the European Union.

Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner and Rabbi Danny Rich were among 37 figures to sign a letter insisting challenges likes combatting poverty and tackling climate change and the migration crisis can only be addressed in a global context.

Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Jewish leaders all put their names to the letter in the Observer, alongside leading interfaith figures.

Saying faith was about building bridges rather than “erecting barriers”, they added: “As leaders and senior figures of faith communities, we urge our co-religionists and others to think about the implications of a Leave vote for the things about which we are most passionate.

“The past 70 years have been the longest period of peace in Europe’s history. Institutions that enable us to work together and understand both our differences and what we share in common contribute to our increased security and sense of collective endeavour.”

Among the other Jewish signatories were former Board of Deputies president Vivian Wineman, Nisa Nashim founder Laura Marks and Ben Rich, the former chief executive of the Movement for Reform Judaism. Woolf Institute founder Ed Kessler also put his name to it.