Voice of the Jewish News: That was the momentous year that was
From the war in Ukraine and death of the Queen to the ascent and demise of a number of prime ministers (you can't expect us to remember precisely how many), this was the year that was...
So it’s (almost) farewell to 2022. It was another huge year for building relations with the Muslim world. The sight of the Chief Rabbi in the United Arab Emirates was hugely symbolic and a welcome dose of good news among the bad.
It was the year we grew. The total number of Jews in the UK was confirmed from census data as 271,327, an increase of about 6,000 since the last one ten years ago.
We now officially make up the loudest 0.5 percent of the population.
It was the year we shouted at one another over whether Jewish community leaders should be pressing the government to move the UK embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, after the Board of Deputies went ahead and did exactly that.
We lost our beloved Queen. By and large, the community tends to be a big fan of the royal family, so we shared in the nation’s grief when Elizabeth II passed away. King Charles III is a passionate friend of the Jewish community – long may he reign over us.
We lost several prime ministers, too, but the one we have going into 2023 seems to be saying all the right things about Israel and her enemies, giving us faith that despite the game of musical chairs, the government’s tune hasn’t changed.
It was the year we kept the UK’s only Jewish farm. Sadeh Farm in Kent has been operating for decades, in part as a kosher guesthouse, and had been due to close after its owners took it off the market, where they were asking for £1.5m.
It was the year the government tried to close a loophole allowing yeshivas to teach only a narrow religious curriculum by forcing them to register as schools.
Around 1,000 strictly-Orthodox Jews protested by reprehensibly wearing a Holocaust-era yellow star.
It was the year we threw our door open physically and metaphorically for Jewish refugees from Ukraine.
The country has a rich and long Jewish history, as Jews have for helping those fleeing war and persecution. After all, we know it well.
It was the year we got serious about screening those with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage for genetic diseases. The NHS changed its criteria from anyone with a past family problem to anyone with a Jewish grandparent, making tests far more accessible.
It was the year that the law finally caught up with men who refuse to grant their former wives a Jewish religious divorce (a get). Alan Alti Moher, who did just that, was jailed for controlling and coercive behaviour, which is now a crime.
Surely 2023 will be quiet by comparison. Surely?
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.
