Sitting in the Cabinet Room made me proud of our vibrant community

This woman was not Jewish, yet she identified with the universal story of a dairyman and his family wrestling with the challenges of everyday life while staying true to their faith.

I thought of that evening as I led representatives of Jewish organisations into Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister and was filled with pride.

First, we are fortunate that four consecutive heads of government have honoured this tradition — a meeting that is both a substantive policy discussion on communal issues and a statement of governmental commitment to work together to address our concerns. 

Second, it is remarkable how Jewish values are embraced across Britain — from the corridors of power in Whitehall to a theatre in Chichester. I am proud to be a British Jew.

Our community is vibrant, our organisations robust and our service provision is exceptional. We observe our religious traditions while integrating into and enriching all aspects of British society.

Our community is secure. But we cannot be complacent as we are often the primary target of Islamist extremists and the far right.

Indeed, sitting in the Cabinet Room, we discussed the rise of antisemitism and the need to safeguard faith education. We asked for assistance in addressing challenges facing social care organisations and mental health providers. 

Simultaneously, we expressed our appreciation for the government’s iron-clad commitment to Israel and gratitude to Mrs May for her leadership in celebrating the Balfour centenary.

Throughout my tenure as its chair, the Jewish Leadership Council will work even more closely with its members, government and across society to strengthen our community. 

Together, I believe we will become even more secure in our heritage, more optimistic about our future and more collaborative in the way we overcome the obstacles we encounter.

Jonathan Goldstein is the chair of the Jewish Leadership Council