Sixty Muslim and Jewish leaders joined together last night for the launch of what new Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg called the “Optimistic Alliance”.

The event, organised by the Board of Deputies, philanthropist Maurice Ostro OBE, and the Faiths Forum for London, was the first official event for Lord Wajid Khan, the Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government with responsibility for faith.

During the event, discussions were held on a range of issues including how to tackle anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hatred; challenge extremism and support mainstream voices; defend shared religious freedoms; confront societal challenges like poverty and climate change; and find ways to engage better over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Discussions are now underway about how to expand the initiative over the coming months.

Speaking at the event, Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said: “This ‘Optimistic Alliance’ is the beginning of a journey together, from a place of death and destruction, of division and despair, to a place called hope. A place called empathy. And a place called peace.”