A representative of grassroots peace organisation One Voice had to pull out of an adult education event at Woodside Park Synagogue to fly back to the Middle East to comfort a colleague after the death of several family members in Gaza.

The breach was filled at short notice by One Voice partnerships director Jake Hayman, who explained the aims of the organisation to a 50-strong audience, including many members of the shul’s youth group.

He said that One Voice had more than 600,000 supporters in Israel and Palestine for its efforts to persuade politicians on both sides to make concessions for peace.

Event organiser Jonathan Hoffman said: “We are extremely grateful to Jake Hayman for stepping into the breach and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his colleague.

“One Voice does invaluable work in helping to achieve dialogue in UK universities.

“It receives little publicity,” he added, “but is doing a terrific job in giving the moderate silent majority a voice on both sides of the Middle East divide.”