Rabbis urge Cameron to accept Syrian refugees into Britain

A delegation of rabbis will this week deliver a letter to Downing Street urging David Cameron to take in refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.

The Government has so far declined to join 16 other nations in taking in refugees from the war-torn country, but has focused its efforts on helping those who have fled to neighbouring countries.

The delegation has been organised by the Jewish Council for Racial Equality and the letter’s 200 signatories includes leading ministers from across Anglo-Jewry.

One of those who will deliver the letter, Rabbi Jeremy Gordon of New North London Synagogue said:  “If it wasn’t for the welcome this country afforded my family, we would have been caught in the horrors of the Holocaust. As a British Jew, I appeal to my government to welcome some of those who are suffering so greatly in Syria now.”

Edie Friedman, JCORE’s director, said she hoped Britain would quickly join with the 16 other states participating in UNHCR’s global resettlement programme for the most vulnerable refugees from the region “We must play our part in offering them a place of safety -it’s the very least we can do.”

Delivering the petition alongside Rabbi Gordon will be Rabbi Lee Sunderland of the United Synagogue in Romford, Rabbi Sybil Sheridan of Wimbledon and District Reform Synagogue, and Rabbi Danny Rich, Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism.