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Open letter from British Jews to Archbishop Welby, September 2024

 

The letter below is being circulated to gather the signatures of UK

Jews, before being delivered to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

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If you identify as Jewish and wish to support the letter, please sign HERE

The Archbishop of Canterbury

Lambeth Palace, London

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Dear Archbishop Welby

 

The signatories of this letter are Jews from a wide range of perspectives, united in our outrage at Israel’s savage war on the Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

 

We greatly welcome your recent statement (August 2nd) that, in the light of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion of 19th July, Israel’s Occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal and Israel should immediately withdraw.

 

We write now to urge you to take full account of the diversity of Jewish opinion on Israel and Palestine, both religious and secular, and to widen the range of Jewish organisations that you listen to and meet with.

 

We deplore the unfailing backing Israel receives from the supposedly official voices of British Jewry, the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD) and the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis. The BoD regularly insists that its is the sole legitimate voice, and that other Jewish voices, which it does not hesitate to denigrate, must be ignored. Equally concerning is the fact that mainstream politicians and media seem to accept the BoD’s claim to be the sole representative of British Jews. The result is that British Jews are generally portrayed as supporting the occupation of Palestine, the proliferating illegal settlements, and, now, the mass killings in Gaza.

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In fact, the BoD and Chief Rabbi Mirvis represent only a minority of the British Jewish community [i]. To be involved in electing Deputies to the Board, one must be a member of a United or other BoD-affiliated synagogue, or be connected to one of the BoD-affiliated communal organisations. Rabbi Mirvis is Chief Rabbi only of the United Synagogue, a union of Orthodox British synagogues, but not of the other Jewish denominations. 

 

Jews who are not members of United or other BoD-affiliated organisations are not represented. For example, the UK Haredi community, some 75,000 strong [ii], about 25% of all British Jews, along with most secular Jews, are not represented by either Chief Rabbi Mirvis or the BOD, whose views on Israel many of us strongly oppose [iii]. 

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We ask you to reflect on the shame and horror we feel at being represented as approving of the murderous oppression of Palestinians by the self-declared Jewish supremacist state of Israel. To be tarred with the brush of complicity in its programme of land theft, house demolitions, pogroms and, now, mass killing, connects us, viscerally, to our own historic experience as victims of pogroms and the Nazi genocide. In the light of this alone, we are resolute in our condemnation of Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their lands.

 

We are deeply concerned at the systematic deployment of the charge of antisemitism against those, including Jews, who criticise Israel. The charge of antisemitism has particular impact on members of Muslim communities who, as reported to us, too often feel unable to speak freely on Palestine and Israel. Their perspectives and concerns are being silenced by the amplification of establishment Jewish perspectives.

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Many Jews dissent from the position of the BOD and Chief Rabbi Mirvis, as witness the array of Jewish organisations critical of Israel – Jewish Voice for Labour, Jewish Network for Palestine, Na’amod, Black-Jewish Alliance, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Jewish Socialist Group, as well as the Haredi communities [iv]. The national marches for Palestine incorporate a Jewish Bloc, sometimes more than one thousand strong.

 

Attributing, to all British Jews, the views of the BOD and Chief Rabbi Mirvis, perpetuates the misleading impression of the UK Jewish community as a monolithic bloc. This falsehood harms community relations, not least because it plays to the antisemitic trope that Jews, by our very nature, are of one mind in pursuit of self-serving and nefarious purposes. The British establishment’s support for Israel, despite the steadily mounting evidence of genocide, strengthens the impression of sinister Jewish power.

 

The need to nurture positive relations between the Established Church and the Jewish establishment should not lead to the marginalisation of other Jewish voices, and must not overrule the urgent need to recognise and denounce the evil of what Israel is doing to the Palestinians.

 

It is desperately urgent that dissenting Jewish voices should be heard. We write because we believe that as head of the Established Church, you should listen. We ask that you agree to meet a delegation drawn from the list of signatories below. The organisers of this letter would welcome the opportunity to facilitate such an engagement.

 

We are yours Sincerely

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Avi Shlaim, Emeritus Professor, St Antony’s College, Oxford University

Antony Lerman, Senior Fellow at the Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue, Vienna

Richard Kuper, co-founder of Jews for Justice for Palestinians

Jenny Manson, Co-Chair, Jewish Voice for Labour

Naomi Wimbourne-Idrissi, Media Officer, Jewish Voice for Labour

Jonathan Rosenhead, Chair, British Committee for the Universities of Palestine

Moshé Machover, Emeritus Professor, KCL

Miranda Pinch, Producer of documentary From Balfour to Banksy, CAMPAIN

Robert A.H. Cohen (see Writing from the Edge)

David Epstein FRS, Emeritus Professor, University of Warwick

Dr. George Wilmers, Mathematical Logician

Michael Rosen, Author

Alexei Sayle, Comedian

David Mond, CAMPAIN

Bernard Spiegal, CAMPAIN

Professor Ludi Simpson, Hon. Professor, University of Manchester School of Social Sciences

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If you are Jewish and wish, to support this letter, please sign HERE

You will receive an email asking you to confirm your "subscription" , which means your signing the letter.

If by any chance you do not receive the confirmation email, please check your spam mail, and if that fails let us know by writing to admin@campain.org.

We shall periodically add further signatures below the endnotes

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​Endnotes​

​i.     See reprint of a 2015 article by Joseph Finlay in the Jewish Quarterly

ii.    See report of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research on Haredi Jews around the World; population trends and estimates

iii.   See article on orthodox Jews protesting at a BoD annual dinner

iv.   See article on orthodox Jewish organisations letter of gratitude to Jeremy Corbyn â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹

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*List of signatories: we rely on signatories correctly defining themselves as Jewish. Some have volunteered information on their organisational affiliation

First Name
Last Name
Organisation or Affiliation
Michele
Aaron
Professor, University of Warwick
Avigail
Abarbanel
Michele
Abendstern
Jeanette
Abendstern
John
Abraham
Larne
Abse Gogarty
UCL
Lauren
Ackerman
Newcastle University
Marion
Adler
JfjfP
Erika
Adler
Vicky
Album
Progressive Jews for Justice in Israel and Palestine
Lesley
Alterman
Rev Dr John S
Anderson
The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church USA Bay Area
Philip
Appleby
Mark
Armstrong
Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Deborah
Asher
Na'amod
Nathan
Asher
Rosalind
Austin
Ali
Avery
Anthony
Baldwin
Sue
Bard
Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community and Progressive Jews for Justice in Israel Palestine
Julia
Bard
Graham
Bash
Political Officer, Jewish Voice For Labour
Lucy
Baxandall
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Sandi
Beecher
Andree
Beida Ryan
Michele
Benn
Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation
Jacqueline
Bentley
Marge
Berer
Jewish Voice for Labour
Frances
Bernstein
Gabrielle
Bernstone
Rica
Bird
Unite the Union NW/96
Jonathan
Bloch
Emanuel
Bloom
Louise
Bloom
Carla
Bloom
Na'amod
Jenny
Bloom
Hagit
Borer
Queen Mary University of London
Lauren
Bourque
Nicholas
Brady
Gabriella
Braun
Na'amod
Haim
Bresheeth-Zabner
Jewish Network for Palestine
Sage
Brice
UK Jewish Academic Network
Peter
Buckman
Writer & Literary Agent
Erica
Burman
Professor of Education, University of Manchester
Jenni
Calder
Anthony
Callender
N/A
David
Cannon
Chair of Jewish Network for Palestine
Richard
Carabine
David
Carey
Tom
Chachewitz
Alan
Chapman
Global University for Humanity
Ian
Chard
University of Edinburgh
Julie
Clare
Sue
Coatman
West Yorkshire jews for a ceasefire
Sylvia
Cohen
JVL. Jfjfp
Simon
Cohen
Na'amod and author of 'Jews Did Count but for the Wrong Reasons.'
Barbara
Cohen
Jews for justice for Palestinians, New Israel Fund. British Friends of Oasis of Peace UK.
Zoe
Cohen
Zoe Cohen Limited
Katy
Colley
Hastings Jews for Justice and Na'amod
Jake
Colman
Previously a synagogue co-director
Julia
Corwin
Assistant Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science
Dianne
Cox
Sabeel Kairis, PSC, ICAHD
Judith
Cravitz
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Mandy
Croft
Brighton and Hove progressive synagogue
Francesca
Cupido
Mike
Cushman
Jewish Voice for Labour
Malicia
Dabrowicz
Rita
Dabrowicz
Cathy
Daniels
Isabelle
Darmon
University of Edinburgh
Minna
Daum
Bernard
Davies
Hilary
De Santos
Jewish Voice for Labour
Judith
De Witt
Ivor
Dembina
David
Denison
Rebekah
Diski
University of Warwick
Shlomo
Dowen
Charles
Drazin
Elizabeth
Dresner
Laurence
Dreyfus
University of Oxford
Pamela
Dub
Rebecca
Earle
historian
Rosalind
Edwards
Na'amod
Susan
Egert
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Elizabeth
Elkind
Lyn
Ellerker
Stephen
Engelhard
Alexandra
Farr
Judy
Farrar
Gene
Feder FMedSci OBE
Professor of primary care, University of Bristol
Pia
Feig
supporter of Manchester Jewish Action on Palestine
Jonathan
Feldman
Sheffield Jews Against Israeli Apartheid
Shelley
Feldman
Neil
Finer
Doctor
Emily
Finer
University of St Andrews
Sylvia
Finzi
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Rajmil
Fischman
Keele University
Frank
Fisher
JVL
Ali
Flebotte
Na'amod. Member of a Glasgow synagogue
Michael
Flexer
University of Exeter
Dora
Frankel
Alexander
Franklin
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, King's College London
Debbie
Friedman
Jewish Voice for Labour
Kenny
Fryde
Ellen
Galford
Ophira
Gamliel
University of Glasgow
Carrie
Gaye
Na'amod / Jews for Justice for Palestinans
Margaret
Gelb
Victor
Gelb
Carolyn
Gelenter
Rene
Gimpel
Jewish Voice for Labour
René
Gimpel
Jewish Voice for Labour
David
Goldberg
Martin
Golding
Jewish Voice for Labour
Simon
Goodman
Associate Professor of Psychology
John
Goodman
Jewish Voice for Labour
Yvonne
Gordon
Neve
Gordon
Melanie
Gould
Brighton & Hove Jews against the occupation (JATO)
Daniella
Gould
M
Greenwood
Jews for Justice for Palestiians
Grahame
Gross
Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation and PJJIP
Janie
Grote
Mark
Gutteridge
Na'amod
Yohai
Hakak
Brunel University
Noel
Hamel
Alison
Harris
Greater Manchester Jewish Voice
Sandra
Harris Ramini
A.D.
Harvey
author
Abe
Hayeem
Jewish Voice for Labour
Jeanne
Heal
Patricia
Heatherington
Maurice
Herson
Judith
Hirson
Amanda
Hopkinson
Andrew
Hornung
JVL
Asa
Horwood
Adam
Hurst
JVL
Steve
Jackson
Claire
Jackson
Leicester OG member of Progressive Jews for Justice in Israel Palestine
Estelle
Jacobs
Lin
James
Newcastle Reform Synagogue (NRS)
Joanna
Jellinek
Jews for justice for Palestians
William
Johnston
Jenny
Kassman
Jewish Voice for Labour
Itamar
Kastner
University of Edinburgh
Paul
Kaufman
Chris
Kaufman
Former national officer, Unite the Union
Talitha
Kearey
Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community / PJJIP
David
Keys
Journalist. Also member of The Ark Synagogue, Northwood
Allison
Koh
Pauline
Kollontai
Professor Emeritus, York St John University
Agnes
Kory
Debbie
Krantz
Jon
Kurta
David
Landau
Ronnie
Landau
Holocaust historian
Madeline
Landauer
Bernice
Laschinger
Jvl
Ruth
Lass
Actress
Michelle
Laufer
Felicity
Laurence
Coleen
Le
Katherine
Lebow
UK Jewish Academic Network; Jewish Faculty at Oxford
Jessica
Leschnikoff
Na'amod / Jewish Voice for Labour
Leah
Levane
Co Chair Jewish Voice for Labour
Mark
Levene
Emeritus Fellow, Parkes Centre for Jewish/non-Jewish Relations, University of Southampton
Sonya
Levene
Na'amod UK
Betty
Levene
Caroline
Lever
Na'amod
Les
Levidow
Jewish Network for Palestine (JNP)
Susanne
Levin
Colin
Levine
Raised in the Orthodox tradition
Marsha
Levine
Stephen
Linton
Alon
Lischinsky
Oxford Brookes University
Adrian
Litvinoff
Justice for Palestinians Leamington Spa
Robert
Lizar
Jewish Action for Palestine and Jewish Socialist Group
Teri
Lockton
Jewish Voice for Labour
Gill
Lucas
Ruth
Lukom
Deborah
Maccoby
Jewish Voice for Labour and Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Dorothy
Macedo
Jane
Macintosh
Viv
Mackay
JVL
Moshe
Mankoff
Glenn
Martin
Helen
Martins
Member, Jewish Socialists' Group and Jewish Voice for Labour
Pamela
Mayorcas
Avi
Mayorcas
Rosalind
Meadow
Worthing and Adur Palestine Solidarity Campaign (chair)
Ronald
Mendel
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Rita
Mendelson
Heather
Mendick
Juliet
Michaelson
Karen
Midgen
Jfjfp
Dr Laura
Miller
Jewish Voice for Labour, Jewish Socialists Group
Angie
Mindel
Jewish Voice for Labour
Gabriel
Mond

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