BOARD OF DEPUTIES REPORT
David Montague and Michael Sharron
On the nineteenth of November 2000, the Board of Deputies celebrated 240 years since its first meeting as the London Committee of Deputies in 1760. This inaugural meeting followed the submission of a Loyal Address by the Jewish community on the accession of King George III. In an anniversary message to today's 300 elected Deputies, the Honorary Officers of the Board recalled the achievements over the centuries of a democratic organisation of which the community can be proud.
At a Breakfast Briefing hosted by S J Berwin and Co., Deputies were addressed by John Grieve, Deputy Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Racial and Violent Crime task force in the Metropolitan Police. Mr Grieve discussed the recent rise in the number of antisemitic incidents during the Middle East crisis and paid a glowing tribute to the work of the Jewish community in tackling racial crime and violence in London. Mr Grieve also outlined several new initiatives intended to improve the Metropolitan Police's handling of race crime in the wake of the Macpherson Report.
The Board of Deputies s sent copies of the Local Authority Guidelines for Holocaust Memorial Day to all Deputies, synagogues and Representative Councils. The Guidelines encouraged local authorities to organise specific commemorative and educational events for the Memorial Day. In addition, an education pack for Holocaust Memorial Day was produced by the Department for Education and Employment in collaboration with several organisations including the Board of Deputies. The pack was sent to all primary and secondary schools in the country. The Board urged Jewish communities to work with their local authorities and other faith and ethnic groups to help ensure that Britain's first national Holocaust Memorial Day was a success.
27 January 2001 saw Britain's inaugural Holocaust Memorial Day commemorated. The national ceremony was screened live by the BBC and was attended by Holocaust survivors, refugees and many other members of the community, as well as prominent politicians and HRH The Prince of Wales. Events also took place up and down the country as local authorities worked with Jewish communities and other faith and ethnic groups to present exhibitions, hold civic services and unveil memorials. Several Board representatives were closely involved in the planning for the Day, including the national ceremony in Scotland.
Board of Deputies Director General Neville Nagler was invited to attend a conference in Berlin to discuss the place of minority communities in Europe. Jointly hosted by the British Ambassador and the Centre for European Integration Studies in Germany, the seminar looked at the growing diversity of cultures within Britain and Germany and the best ways of combating racism and intolerance. Mr Nagler was the only Jewish participant at the conference, which included representatives from the Home Office, the Foreign Office, the Commission for Racial Equality and members of other ethnic minority and faith communities.
In February 2001 Board of Deputies President Jo Wagerman sent her congratulations to the new Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon following his resounding election success. Mrs Wagerman urged Mr Sharon to continue striving for peace and security for Israel She also praised outgoing Premier Ehud Barak for his considerable efforts in the search for peace with the Palestinians and expressed the hope that these efforts would not prove to be in vain.
The Board hosted a luncheon for Deputies addressed by Stephen Twigg, MP for Enfield Southgate and Chair of the Labour Friends of Israel. In his speech, Mr Twigg criticised the biased reporting on the Middle East of much of the British media and pledged to continue his support for Israel in Parliament and the Press. He also spoke of the need to eradicate prejudice and racism, and urged Britain to celebrate its cultural diversity.
Representatives from the Board of Deputies and the Anglo-Jewish Association met with the Austrian Ambassador, Dr Alexander Christiani, to discuss the restitution package for those who had property seized during the Nazi period. The Board welcomed the recent news that the Austrian government has arranged a comprehensive compensation package with the Claims Conference and urged the importance of the government making moral restitution by acknowledging its responsibility during the Nazi era.
Following allegations made about former members of the Galizian Waffen SS division living in Britain, the Board of Deputies has welcomed the stated commitment of the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, to investigate this matter further. Mr Straw is looking into the possibility of removing British citizenship from suspected war criminals
Eli Yerushalmi, Minister-Counsellor for Public Affairs at the Israeli Embassy addressed the Board and explained that the Israeli Defence Force was exercising restraint in spite of public frustration. He stressed that Israel wished to return to the negotiating table but warned that the conflict would be prolonged.
Barbara Roche MP, Minister of State, Home Office, addressed the Board on Immigration and Asylum at the beginning of February
All the Board plenary meetings are well attended, and lively debates frequently ensue.