The first candidate to stand in the Board of Deputies presidential elections taking place next May has been announced.
Phil Rosenberg, 38, who is currently the deputy for Brondesbury Park Synagogue, would, if successful, become the Board’s youngest ever president.
He previously worked at the Board as its public affairs director during the Corbyn years, Covid and Brexit.
Having taken on senior roles at leading advocacy, communications and campaigns agencies since leaving the Board, Rosenberg told the JC: “The UK Jewish community faces unparalleled challenges going into 2024. As the democratic representative body of the UK Jewish community, the Board of Deputies will need leadership with energy, ideas, vision and experience to take it on the next stage of its journey.”
Phil Rosenberg with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
Addressing the Limmud conference, Rosenberg, who would be taking on the role of president after Marie van der Zyl steps down after six years, mapped out his campaign around five key themes: pursuing a policy of ‘Zero Antisemitism’ through legislation, education and outreach; Standing up for Israel’s peace and security, which would include calling out Iran and its proxies and expanding peace with Israel’s neighbours through the Abraham Accords; defending religious practices such as like shechita, brit milah and Jewish freedoms in the workplace; strengthening the Board’s engagement with the community, including in the regions, with constituent denominations, Charedim, Jewish schools, young people and Israelis living in the UK and enhancing the Board’s democracy. The latter would focus on improving deputy involvement in policy development and mobilising the approximately 320 deputies “as an advocacy, education and outreach volunteer force for the community as a whole”.
While working as the Board’s public affairs director, Rosenberg played a leading part in the response to antisemitism in the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn, successfully campaigned for the proscription of Hamas and Hezbollah and built relationships with embassies from Arab and Muslim-majority embassies.
Phil Rosenberg meeting Pope Francis
Other successes included securing an amendment to the Coronavirus Bill to prevent compulsory cremations, creating the Commission on Racial Inclusivity in the Jewish Community, led by journalist Stephen Bush and leading a campaign about Uyghur human rights.
His push for stronger ties across all parts of the Jewish community included recruiting the Board’s first ever regional manager and bringing in the Board’s first Charedi Deputy from Stamford Hill in 50 years.
He said: “Having worked closely with all four living presidents of the Board of Deputies, served all four of its divisions, and overseen its advocacy and policy functions, I believe that I am uniquely placed to build on the strengths of the Board over the coming years."
In 2019, Rosenberg married his wife Frances Abebreseh in Jerusalem.
