SPECIAL REPORT: Rosenberg sets the early pace in battle for the Board

The former public affairs director at the Board of Deputies is to throw his hat into the ring at the organisation’s next presidential election in May, Jewish News understands.

Phil Rosenberg, who left the Board in 2022 to take up a public relations role, was a Labour Party councillor in Camden from 2014 until 2018.

He later drew the ire of Labour’s left by appearing in the BBC Panorama programme about antisemitism in the party, but also raised some eyebrows by failing to renounce his membership during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

He returned to the Board in February as the deputy for Brondesbury Park and is understood to be eyeing the top job, replacing Marie van der Zyl, who will have served two terms, and with whom he worked closely.

Rosenberg was a Board director for eight years, leading on public policy, advocacy, and communications, in which he formulated the organisation’s response to UK and world events, such as China’s persecution of the Uyghur minority.

He is known for his interfaith work, driving the Board’s outreach to other communities, and for the organisation’s landmark Commission into Racial Inclusivity in the Jewish community, a ten-month audit chaired by journalist Stephen Bush.

Current vice-president Amanda Bowman, who heads the defence division, will have been an honorary officer for six years by the time of the election and is seen by some as the favourite, although she is yet to declare her intention to run.

Rosenberg’s is not the only name being mooted, however. Current vice-president Amanda Bowman, who heads the defence division, will have been an honorary officer for six years by the time of the election and is seen by some as the favourite, although she is yet to declare her intention to run.

Following similar approaches from Jewish News, none of the Board’s other honorary officers – treasurer Michael Ziff, senior vice-president David Mendoza-Wolfson, and vice-president Edwin Shuker – ruled themselves out of the running.

Ziff, who is well-known from his connection to Maccabi GB, has been an honorary officer for less than a year, taking over from Ben Crowne as treasurer in 2022. Some suggested that he “could be a dark horse” if he decides to enter the race.

Likewise, several have mentioned that former vice-president Sheila Gewolb could run again. At the last election, she competed for president, along with Shuker.

Another name mooted as a possible candidate is Adrian Cohen, a partner at the law firm Proskauer Rose and a recent Labour councillor who founded the London Jewish Forum. He is a vice-president of the Jewish Leadership Council and recently married van der Zyl.

The most likely progressive candidate for president would be Mendoza-Wolfson, who is strongly connected to the Conservative Party, but it was Rosenberg’s name that set tongues wagging.

Early indications are that he has a broad support base – and a desire to win – but his connection to the Labour Party during the Corbyn years will trigger questions. “He’s schmoozing just about everyone at the moment,” said one well-connected source.

“He’s very competent, but people will ask about the politics, as well they should. They’ll also ask why he didn’t go for Board chief executive when Gillian Merron left.”

Several have mentioned that former vice-president Sheila Gewolb could run again. At the last election, she competed for president, along with Shuker.

As part of this public affairs brief, Rosenberg had a role in persuading the government to proscribe Hamas and Hezbollah, but despite the achievements, one deputy said the next presidency was “Bowman’s to lose” at this stage. “She’s the least shouty out of all the names being mentioned.

“She just quietly gets on with it,” they said. “She’ll have served six years, met all the right people, formed the connections. She’s about as centrist as you get. She’s the safe pair of hands.”

Bowman chairs the Board’s defence division, from which most recent presidents have come, including van der Zyl and her predecessor, Jonathan Arkush.