Two deputies return to Board after FT Gaza letter suspensions cut
Two Reform synagogue representatives reinstated after apologising for role in controversial Financial Times letter
The Board of Deputies has reduced the suspensions of two members involved in a highly contentious letter about the Gaza war published in the Financial Times earlier this year, allowing both to return to their seats next month.
Philip Goldenberg, deputy for North West Surrey Reform Synagogue, and Robert Stone of Finchley Reform Synagogue submitted what the executive committee described to members as a “suitable apology”, which enabled their suspensions to be shortened.
Their reinstatement marks the latest development in a months-long disciplinary process triggered after 36 deputies signed an April letter that accused the Israeli government of actions that risked “ripping out Israel’s soul”. An investigation concluded that the signatories had breached the Board’s code of conduct by presenting personal views as those of the organisation, leading to formal reprimands in June.
Five deputies, including Goldenberg and Stone, faced harsher penalties for helping to promote the letter and were initially barred for two years. Three were later offered the chance to reduce their suspension to six months if they issued an apology. In one appeal, four of the five saw their bans cut from two years to 18 months after a panel identified an “inadvertent error” in the original investigation, but upheld that the code had been breached.
According to the Executive Board meeting report seen by Jewish News, the Appeal Panel decision was followed by “suitable apologies” from two deputies. The Executive accepted these apologies and confirmed that their suspensions would therefore be reduced to six months, ending on 24 December.
Goldenberg said this week he was relieved that the process had concluded. “I am glad the process has now been completed,” he said. “It has revealed many procedural flaws and the Board should learn lessons from these flaws”
The letter provoked a fierce response within the community. Several Orthodox synagogues warned they would consider leaving the Board unless firm action was taken, while Progressive rabbis defended the signatories as “principled and brave” and denounced the sanctions as disproportionate.
Goldenberg and Stone, who both sit on the Board’s finance, fundraising and organisation division, will resume their responsibilities before the end of the year.
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