Historians, educators, Holocaust survivors, and the founder of Mitzvah Day are among a number of Jewish people honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours this year.

Laura Marks, founder of Mitzvah Day, the world’s largest faith-based day of social action, has been recognised with a CBE for her outstanding charitable contributions.

After more than two decades of contributions to the community and charity sectors, Marks is being honoured for achievements made in three areas: For her work in inter-faith relations, in Holocaust and genocide commemoration, and in the empowerment of women.

Marks co-founded the Muslim-Jewish women’s network Nisa-Nashim, which works to achieve community cohesion through the empowerment of women from both faith groups and through the Women’s Faith Forum. Marks has also chaired the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust since 2015.

Laura Marks

Laura Marks CBE with the late chief rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

She introduced the King and Queen to Holocaust survivor Dr Martin Stern, and survivor of the Darfur genocide Amouna Adam, as they led the nation in a national commemorative candle lighting at Buckingham Palace.

Marks said: “There is no doubt that this honour belongs not to me but to the thousands of volunteers, survivors, women, campaigners, staff members, trustees, broadcasters, family members and funders who have made my work over many years possible. I’m indebted to every one of them and hope that this recognition encourages more people to support our vital work to make our world safer, cleaner and fairer.”

Laura Marks

Laura Marks CBE

Historian David Abulafia has also been given a CBE, as has John Caplin and Charles Sebag Montefiore. Carolyn Regan, Chief Executive of the West London NHS Trust has also been given a CBE.

Tania Cohen, Rabbi Shlomo (Stanley) Levin, Rabbi Alan Plancev, and Dr Natalie Shenker have all received MBEs this year.

David Lewis and Anne Webber, who co-founded the Commission for Looted Art in Europe (CLAE) in 1999, have been recognised with a CBE.

Lewis is the husband of Holocaust survivor Hannah Lewis MBE.

The Holocaust Educational Trust said it was “so pleased” to see Lewis and Webber recognised “for their tireless efforts to return looted art to its rightful owner

Anita Parmar, though not Jewish herself, has worked with the Holocaust Educational Trust for two decades and has received an MBE. She currently heads HET’s Lessons from Auschwitz Project.

The HET said: “Formerly a History teacher in a London school, Anita was determined to ensure that the Holocaust was taught at a high standard. 

“She joined the Holocaust Educational Trust team in 2004 and has played a pivotal role in our work for nearly two decades. 

“Anita has helped to ensure that tens of thousands of young people have seen for themselves the site of the former Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau through our Lessons from Auschwitz Project and has helped to ensure that survivors’ stories are told and retold. 

“We are incredibly proud of our valued colleague and dear friend, and we wish Anita a hearty Mazel Tov!”

Parmar said: “This really is a reflection of the dedication of the whole team at the Holocaust Educational Trust who work day-in and day-out, to ensure that the horrors of the past are understood and remembered and that the legacy of the Holocaust continues. I am so proud to work for such an important cause, alongside Holocaust survivors who are an incredible inspiration to me and who play a key role in educating the next generation about the past.”

Suzanne Rappaport-Ripton, 87, has been awarded an MBE. She has worked with the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) on their My Story life book archive, and on the BBC programmes The Hidden Children (2006), and Children of the Holocaust (2015).

Holocaust survivor and one of the “Windermere Children” Itzik (Ike) Alterman, 95, has been given a BEM. He survived four concentration camps – Blizyn, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Buchenwald, Theresienstadt – as well as a death march, to go on to found a successful jewellery business in Manchester.

He volunteers at the Manchester-based welfare organisation and social care charity The Fed and is also an AJR member.

Raphi Bloom and Juliette Pearce, who nominated Ike for the award, said: “We are delighted and proud that Ike has been recognised by His Majesty The King for his indefatigable work in the field of Holocaust education & awareness over the past 5 years. 

“We see at first hand through The Fed’s My Voice project just how much effort he puts into this work and the immense impact he has on thousands of people of all ages by sharing his life story. 

“Continuing to do this at the age of 95 makes it even more incredible. Mazal tov Ike!”

Ike Alterman

Itzik (Ike) Alterman BEM

Also a recipient of a BEM is Rolf Penzias, who arrived in the UK from Germany as part of the Kindertransport.

He once recollected that he, his brother, and his friends would walk to school together after Hitler’s rise to power to avoid antisemitic attacks.

He now visits schools in the UK and Germany with his wife Lucy to talk to young people about their past so that it can never be repeated.

Martin Kapel, 93, is another BEM recipient, as is Yad Vashem and Jacques Weisser. 

Rappaport-Ripton, Alterman, Penzias, Kapel, and Weisser are all members and volunteers of AJR.

Michael Newman, CEO of AJR, said: “We are so thrilled that these remarkable stalwarts of our community and fellow members of The Association of Jewish Refugees have been recognised for their dedication and contributions to Holocaust education and remembrance.

“Ike has been a dedicated member of the 45 Aid Society and gives several talks a year about his experiences in the concentration camps while Jacques deserves our grateful appreciation as one of the organisers of the national Yom HaShoah commemoration at The Dell in Hyde Park. 

“Rolf is a long-standing member of the AJR Kindertransport committee helping to organise Kindertransport reunions and commemorative events while Suzanne and Martin gave their testimony to the AJR as part of its unique My Story life book archive. 

“They all give of themselves so that communities throughout the country have the opportunity to hear from an eye-witness to the crimes of the Nazis.”

The Holocaust Educational Trust said they were “absolutely thrilled” to see Weisser recognised.

They added: “Whether through his tireless work with Jewish Ex-Servicemen and women or his amazing efforts to support Yom HaShoah, a day set aside to remember the Holocaust, ensuring it is commemorated across the Jewish community, Jacques has a unique determination that is always demonstrated with such warmth and grace. We are grateful for everything he does.”

They added that they were “delighted to see Holocaust survivors Suzanne Ripton, Ike Alterman, Rolf Penzias and Dr Martin Kappel recognised for their commitment to Holocaust education; and special mention must also go to our friends Laura Marks and Rabbi Shlomo Levene also rightly recognised in this list too. Our heartfelt congratulations and good wishes are extended to all recipients. Mazel Tov!”

This year’s Honours List saw 1,171 people awarded.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said: ”This year’s honours list is a testament to ordinary people who have demonstrated extraordinary community spirit, and I pay tribute to all those who have been recognised today.

“Our honours system has long been a way of recognising people who make an incredible contribution to life in Britain and beyond.”

The full list of this year’s recipients can be found here.