Marie van der Zyl has become the first of the candidates for the presidency of the Board of Deputies to publish a manifesto ahead of next month’s election to succeed Jonathan Arkush.
One of the three vice-presidents, who was elected in 2015 and heads the Board’s defence and interfaith relations, she said the community “needs an advocate to stand up for our traditions and to defend our human rights”.
Vice-president Sheila Gewolb and vice-chairman of the Board’s international division Edwin Shuker have also announced their candidacy.
Mrs van der Zyl, an employment lawyer originally from Redbridge and a graduate of the Jewish Leadership Council's Gamechangers programme, said she had reached out to “every corner of our community to fight antisemitism, defend Israel and promote interfaith work”.
