The Board of Deputies of British Jews has announced that it will hold an emergency meeting for MPs on the plight of the Chinese Uyghurs ahead of an important vote which will take place in the House of Commons in the coming days. In December, the House of Lords voted to add an amendment to […]
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Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “The measures announced by the Prime Minister are severe but they meet the urgent need to get the virus back under control. We are grateful to the Government for allowing communal worship and key life-cycle ceremonies to continue but urge people […]
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Board of Deputies Vice President Edwin Shuker has urged the Corporation of London to consider carefully the effect of a new multi-storey block next door to Bevis Marks, one of the world’s oldest and most historic synagogues. He said: “It is vital that the whole Jewish community support Bevis Marks at this time. As the […]
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Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has reacted to the refusal of the European Court of Justice to uphold the right of Jews to practise shechitah following its decision to confirm a Belgian ban on kosher and halal slaughter. Marie said: “The European Court of Justice’s refusal to uphold the right for Jews […]
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A reform that could lead to significant reduction in coroner delays is one step closer after the Board of Deputies met with Nadine Dorries MP, the Minister for Patient Safety. Ms Dorries is overseeing the introduction of medical examiners, now based in NHS trusts, and aiming to scrutinise all deaths, improve death certification, and reduce […]
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The Board of Deputies is urging members of the Jewish community to engage with the new organ donation system and speak to their families. Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies, said: “With the new organ donation system in place, it is essential to: speak to your Rabbi or spiritual authority; share your […]
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Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has welcomed permission for weddings and reopening of religious buildings, but urged a cautious approach to prevent a second spike in cases. She said: “The Board of Deputies welcomes the Government’s decision to allow religious services and weddings of up to 30 people from 4 July. “Over […]
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A Jewish student at King’s College London has had their examination date moved from the Jewish festival of Shavuot thanks to an intervention from the Board of Deputies and University Jewish Chaplaincy. Previously the student was only given the alternative of sitting the exam in August during the summer holidays, which may have penalised the […]
Read more >>>Board of Deputies Vice President Amanda Bowman has welcomed the introduction of safeguards in a new organ donation system by which families will be consulted to ensure their loved ones’ wishes are honoured. Amanda said: “It is now clear what the Government’s organ donation reform means in practice – that families will always be consulted […]
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Board of Deputies Vice President Amanda Bowman commented the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill which has passed its third reading in the House of Lords. Amanda said: “The Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill is a landmark in the transplant system in England, moving the system from an opt-in model to an opt-out model “The ministerial […]
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Board of Deputies Vice President Amanda Bowman has welcomed the launch of the faith declaration on the organ donation register which will enable religious people to ensure their beliefs are taken into account when organ donation is discussed. Amanda said: “This measure will help preserve the religious freedom of potential organ donors. “There is still […]
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Milah UK is delighted to announce the appointment of Jonathan Arkush as its new Co-Chair. He will be taking over from Dr Simon Hochhauser, who announced his intention to step back during the summer after six years in the role. Jonathan will join Professor David Katz, who remains as the other Co-Chair. Jonathan has an […]
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Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said: “Shechita and Brit Milah are the cornerstones of Jewish life wherever Jews reside. Therefore, I am deeply concerned about the situation regarding religious slaughter and I am also appalled about the proposed register of Jews who intend to buy kosher meat in Austria. The FPÖ, the […]
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Dr Simon Hochhauser, the Co-chair of Milah UK which promotes and protects the right of the Jewish community to carry out religious circumcision, has welcomed Iceland’s decision to drop its proposed bill to ban circumcision. He said: “We welcome the common sense decision of the Icelandic Parliament to drop this bill which would have criminalised […]
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Board of Deputies Vice President Marie van der Zyl has welcomed the decision of the High Court to rule against Mary Hassell, the Senior Coroner for Inner North London. Marie said: “We welcome this decision, which will help law-abiding Jewish citizens to mourn their loved ones according to their traditions. We would particularly like to […]
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Ahead of the Judicial Review on practices at the Inner Noprth London Coroners’ Service, The Rt Revd Rob Wickham, the Bishop of Edmonton has appealed to the Senior Coroner for Inner London to ensure that religious communities are treated in accordance with their religious beliefs. He said: “The death of a loved one usually brings […]
Read more >>>Board of Deputies President Jonathan Arkush has welcomed the intervention of the Chief Coroner of England and Wales Judge Mark Lucraft into the actions of Mary Hassell, the controversial Senior Coroner for Inner North London. Judge Lucraft described Ms Hassell’s actions as, “discriminatory”, in breach of the Human Rights Act and unlawful. Jonathan said: “The […]
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The Jewish Manifesto for Local Government, the definitive document for councillors and candidates who wish to serve Jewish residents in their wards and boroughs, was launched in Leeds yesterday. The document, which has been collated by the Board of Deputies of British Jews after consultation with more than 250 community organisations, is being sent […]
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Board of Deputies President Jonathan Arkush has called on Jews and Muslims to stand together on issues including halal and shechitah, circumcision and the current anger surrounding coroner services, and to marginalise extremists. Jonathan, along with Vice President Marie van der Zyl, was in Manchester for a two-day programme of meetings with Muslim community leaders […]
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President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the national representative body of the UK’s Jewish community, Jonathan Arkush, said: “Saving life is one of the most important values in Judaism. On behalf of the UK Jewish community we support means to increase organ donation and relieve suffering. However, today’s Government consultation on presumed […]
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Responding to the Prime Minister’s conference speech, in which she said that the Government will shift “the balance in favour of organ donation”, Board of Deputies Vice President Marie van der Zyl called for caution. She said: “While, in principle, Judaism encourages organ donation in order to save lives, any changes must ensure that there […]
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Board of Deputies of British Jews President Jonathan Arkush has condemned the decision of the Government of Israel not to implement a plan to create separate spaces for mixed prayer at the Western Wall. He said: “I fully share the deep disappointment voiced by Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, with yesterday’s […]
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The Board of Deputies has welcomed the Law Commission’s report “Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty”. Prof David Katz, who co-ordinated the Jewish community’s response, noted that the Commission had consulted widely with faith communities, and had taken into account concerns about excessive and unnecessary coroner referrals which have contributed to delays in burial. He […]
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Medical Practices The Board of Deputies ensures that mainstream medical practice is not in conflict with Jewish ethics in such areas as organ donation, screening for genetic diseases, assisted dying and non-invasive autopsies. The Board of Deputies established Milah UK to help protect the practice of circumcision in accordance with Jewish law and custom. Kosher Slaughter The Board […]
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Candidates were divided on the important Jewish issues at the first-ever Jewish hustings for the Welsh Assembly elections, which took place at Cardiff United Synagogue yesterday (Sunday). Assembly candidates from six parties tussled over the issues raised in the ground-breaking Jewish Manifesto for the National Assembly for Wales, in an event chaired by Board of […]
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Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan-Smith launched the Board of Deputies’ Employer’s Guide to Judaism in London last night with a call to employers to ensure there is no religious discrimination or “bullying” in the workplace. Mr Duncan Smith said: “Nobody should feel they have to choose between their faith and their job. And, certainly, […]
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The Board of Deputies welcomes the decision of the Ministry of Justice to review out of hours coroners’ services. This decision is the result of work put in over many years which the Board has led for the Jewish community. Many of the reforms were suggested on our behalf by Eleanor Platt QC and David […]
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