The Board of Deputies has a long and proud history, having been founded in 1760 as the representative body of British Jews. Its role is vital. Across areas such as kashrut, education and antisemitism, it lobbies for our community’s interests and acts as the focal point for government, both central and local, to discuss issues with Anglo-Jewry.
It has survived for 263 years precisely because it represents British Jews as a whole (although there have long been difficulties with the Charedi community). That is not just true of religious domination but of politics, too. Deputies from left to right come together for the good of the community.
Increasingly, however, the Board has started to campaign on issues that have nothing to do with Jews. The government’s plan to house asylum seekers in Rwanda, for example, arouses strong passions. It is entirely right for individual Jews to express their opposition (or support), given our history as refugees.
But like everyone else, British Jews disagree on the matter. It is both divisive and does not directly affect our community. Therefore, it is quite inappropriate for the Board to campaign against the policy, as though it were speaking on behalf of the entire community. Simply put, the Board is overreaching its authority.
