Strength and resilience of UK Jewish community praised at JLC members event
Baroness Hodge, Lord Khan and Keith Black speak at the communal group's annual Westminster reception
The strength and resilience of the UK’s Jewish community in a time of deep anguish and division was repeatedly praised as the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) held its annual members’ tea event at the House of Lords.
Peers, MPs and communal leaders largely engaged in much needed positive conversation on both the enormous challenges that lay ahead for the community, as well as a recognition that this country still offered much to enable us to continue to flourish here for many years to come.
JLC vice president Baroness Hodge hosted Monday’s event, and spoke to guests about a “really, really difficult period” for Britons Jews, but one in which despite record levels of antisemitism the community “had grown stronger through all these crises.”
The veteran Labour politician singled out those working in the community “as volunteers, as leaders, as professionals to try and make this a good place where you can live with your family,bring up your children, and feel safe, secure and welcome.”
She also praised the Partnership for Jewish Schools organisation, along with other communal groups in the charitable sector.
Hodge also told guests that she was undertaking a review for the Arts Council on the impact of antisemitism on Jewish workers and productions adding this was one of the many challenges the community faced.
In his speech JLC chair Keith Black also noted how difficult life had been for the community as a result of the war Israel fights against Hamas in Gaza, but he also emphasised the contribution made by “the tiny Jewish community less than 300, 000 strong” to so many sectors of British life, including politics, media, law, medicine, science and the arts.
“It’s quite remarkable,” said Black. “I don’t know if it’s that refugee spirit, although most of us today are very distant from that identity.”
Like Hodge, Black noted how the “Death To The IDF” chants at Glastonbury had been yet another low point in life for the community here in recent times.
He continued: “It’s bad enough that we have security guards outside our synagogues, schools and public events – but this new wave of hatred must be rooted out. It should receive the full lash of public and government censure because words are not enough.
“Laws must be enforced and, if necessary, new legislation brought forward. Haters and extremists must be arrested and brought to trial. History tells us that when Jews become victims, others will soon follow. Extremists, whether in Britain or overseas, rarely stop with the Jews. They hate our country, and they hate our values. I call upon government to be unrelenting in action and deed – the warning signs are very clear.”
Also speaking at the event was Faith Minister Lord Khan, who also stressed that the tea represented a chance to “celebrate the immense contributions Jewish communities have made to our national story.”
As a Labour minister Khan saisd his government was “united in our unwavering commitment to defend the right of every individual to practice their religion freely and without fear.”
He added:”We must tackle antisemitism and bigotry with strength and determination, but that alone is not enough. We must also root out the underlying attitudes, the ignorance and the hate that allows prejudice to grow.
“Each of us must be willing to call out hate and intolerance wherever we see it.”
Lord Khan, a practicing Muslim, also praised the work done by the JLC, the Board of Deputies and the Community Security Trust, both in representing the community, and for also forging links with other communities in this country.
He also cited the impact of projects like Mitzvah Day, not just on the community, but on wider society.
Khan was warmly received by many in the room, and was later thanked for his engagement with the communal groups by JLC chief executive Claudia Mendoza.
Among those to attend the tea were Board president Phil Rosenberg, Lord Polak, former Board presidents Henry Grunwald KC, and Marie van der Zyl, the Holocaust Education Trust’s Olivia Marks-Woldman, Lib Dem peer Lord Palmer and the Labour MP Gurinder Singh Josan.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
