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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 (patron of CAMPAIN)
Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC, former Chair, British Institute of Human Rights

Sir Stephen Sedley, KC, former High Court Judge and Visiting Professor at University of Oxford 

Paul Oestreicher OBE, former member of General Synod of CofE and former Chair of Amnesty International

Graeme Segal, FRS, Emeritus Fellow, All Souls College Oxford
David Epstein FRS, Emeritus Professor, University of Warwick

Philip Wadler FRS, Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Congregation (ELJC)

Dr Denis Rutovitz, MBE, worked for Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit and founded the charity Edinburgh Direct Aid in 1992 in response to the horrors of the war in Bosnia

Michael Rosen, Author

Alexei Sayle, Comedian

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)

Dr. George Wilmers, Mathematical Logician

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

David Mond, CAMPAIN

Bernard Spiegal, CAMPAIN

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

Signing in is simple but if you have any problems please let us know by writing to admin@campain.org.

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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            additional signatories as of 8th November, making total signatories about 630 including those listed above.  We rely on signatories correctly defining themselves as Jewish. Thanks to those who volunteered information on their organisational affiliation

617

First Name
Last Name
Organisation or Affiliation
Michele
Aaron
Professor, University of Warwick
Avigail
Abarbanel
Jeanette
Abendstern
Michele
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
Alan
Alexander
Lesley
Alterman
Chanya
Ambalu-Wedell
Liz
Amiel
Jewish Voice for Labour
Rev Dr John S
Anderson
The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church USA Bay Area
Maytaal
Angel
Philip
Appleby
Mark
Armstrong
Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Deborah
Asher
Na'amod
Nathan
Asher
Sinde
Astraea
Rosalind
Austin
Ali
Avery
Joseph
Baglieri
Attorney
Prue
Baker
Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue
Anthony
Baldwin
Lisa
Baraitser
Sue
Bard
Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community and Progressive Jews for Justice in Israel Palestine
Julia
Bard
Patricia
Barnett
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Celia
Barnett
Tony
Barnett
Formerly professor at: The London School of Economics; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Royal Veterinary College
Judith
Baron
Michelle
Baruch Baron
Calder Valley Jewish Group
Graham
Bash
Political Officer, Jewish Voice For Labour
Lucy
Baxandall
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Sandi
Beecher
Andree
Beida Ryan
Teresa
Belton
Author, Quaker, descendent of Jewish grandparents lost to Nazi persecution
Joanna
Benjamin
Michele
Benn
Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation
Ian
Bennun
Jacqueline
Bentley
Marge
Berer
Jewish Voice for Labour
Deborah
Berger
Nick
Berish
Martin
Berman
Linda
Bernhardt
Frances
Bernstein
Alan
Bernstein
Gabrielle
Bernstone
Dr Jon
Berry
Ted
Bianco
Mark
Billington
Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue
Rica
Bird
Jewish Voice for labour
Jay
Blackwood
Pamela
Blakelock
NEU
Jon
Blend
Katharine
Bligh
Jonathan
Bloch
Louise
Bloom
Jenny
Bloom
Carla
Bloom
Naamod
Emanuel
Bloom
Alice
Bondi
Jewish Voice for Labour
Hagit
Borer
Queen Mary University of London
Lauren
Bourque
Ruth
Bradsbhaw
A Jew by ancestry, whose father's family campaigned for a Jewish homeland in Palestine, but would have been horrified by the actions of the present government of Israel
Nicholas
Brady
Gabriella
Braun
Na'amod
Haim
Bresheeth
Professorial Research Associate, SOAS University of London
Sage
Brice
UK Jewish Academic Network
Raymond
Brown
Judy
Brown
JFJFP
Mara
Bryan
Peter
Buckman
The Ampersand Agency Ltd
David
Burke
Bath Spa University
Erica
Burman
Professor of Education, University of Manchester
Jenni
Calder
Anthony
Callender
private individual
Anthony
Callender
David
Cannon
Chair of Jewish Network for Palestine
Jane
Caplan
Emeritus Professor, Faculty of History, University of Oxford
Michael
Caplan
Richard
Carabine
Benjamin
Carey
David
Carey
Linda
Carey
Rosie
Carpenter
Liz
Cashdan
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Tom
Chachewitz
Alan
Chapman
Global University for Humanity
Jackie
Charbit-Middleton
Ian
Chard
University of Edinburgh
Julie
Clare
Jake
Clarke
Rosalind
Clayton
Jewish Voice for Labour, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Reading Liberal Jewish Community
Sue
Coatman
West Yorkshire jews for a ceasefire
Colin
Cohen
Sylvia
Cohen
Jewish Voice for Labour
Ron
Cohen
Jewish voice for labour
Shaun
Cohen
Jewish Voices for Labour
Simon
Cohen
Na'amod and author of 'Jews Did Count but for the Wrong Reasons.'
Zoe
Cohen
Zoe Cohen Limited
Barbara
Cohen
Jews for justice for Palestinians, New Israel Fund. British Friends of Oasis of Peace UK.
Rachel
Cohen
Professor, City St George's, University of London
Naomi
Cole
Katy
Colley
Hastings Jews for Justice and Na'amod
Jake
Colman
Previously a synagogue co-director
Claudia
Conway
New North London Synagogue
Jeff
Cooper
Susan
Corby
University of Greenwich; Professor Emerita
Julia
Corwin
Assistant Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science
Katie
Costello
Jewish Voice for Labour
Dianne
Cox
Sabeel Kairos, PSC, ICAHD
Rita
Craft
Jewish Voice for Labour
Judith
Cravitz
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Ilana
Cravitz
Mandy
Croft
Brighton and Hove progressive synagogue
Rita
Cruise OBrien
Francesca
Cupido
Riva
Curen
Joan
Curtis
Mike
Cushman
Jewish Voice for Labour
Malicia
Dabrowicz
Rita
Dabrowicz
Cathy
Daniels
Isabelle
Darmon
University of Edinburgh
Minna
Daum
Miriam
David
JVL
Sally
Davies
Justice for Palestinians, L. Spa, UK, JfJfP(UK)
Maurice
Davies
Bernard
Davies
Sally
De Haan
Hilary
De Santos
Jewish Voice for Labour
Judith
De Witt
Peter
Deadman
JfJfP
Alan
Deadman
Sheffield Jews Against Israeli Apartheid
Ivor
Dembina
Ivor
Dembina
Ivor Dembina
David
Denison
Carmel
Dersch
Rebekah
Diski
University of Warwick
Shlomo
Dowen
Charles
Drazin
Elizabeth
Dresner
Laurence
Dreyfus
University of Oxford
Audrey
Droisen
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Dr. Judit
Druks
UCL
Pamela
Dub
Various
Pamela
Dub
David
Duchin
Rebecca
Earle
historian
Angela
Eden
Linda
Edmondson
Rosalind
Edwards
Naamod
Susan
Egert
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Barbara
Einhorn
Professor Emerita, University of Sussex, UK/Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Elizabeth
Elkind
Laurie
Elks
Lyn
Ellerker
Stephen
Engelhard
Jerrold
Ezekiel
Dee
FAGIN
Alexandra
Farr
Judy
Farrar
Gene
Feder FMedSci OBE
Professor of primary care, University of Bristol
Pia
Feig
supporter of Manchester Jewish Action on Palestine
Andrew
Feinstein
Rayah
Feldman
Jonathan
Feldman
Sheffield Jews Against Israeli Apartheid
Shelley
Feldman
Jonathan
Feuilhade
Ruth
Finar
Neil
Finer
Doctor
Emily
Finer
University of St Andrews
Deborah
Fink
Co-founder of Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods
Sylvia
Finzi
Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Rajmil
Fischman
Keele University
Frank
Fisher
JVL
Raoul
Fishman
Jvl
Ali
Flebotte
Naamod. Member of a Glasgow synagogue
Paul Robeson
Fletcher
Michael
Flexer
University of Exeter
Erika
Fox
a member of Jews for Justice for Palestine
Jeffrey
Frankel
Dora
Frankel
Nancy
Frankel
Jewish Voice for Labour
Louella
Frankel Jones
JFJP
Tom
Franklin
Neil
Franklin
Alexander
Franklin
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Kings College London
Danny
Friedman
Cobweb Consulting
Debbie
Friedman
Jewish Voice for Labour
Kenny
Fryde
Ian
Fulton
Jfjfp
Ellen
Galford
Ophira
Gamliel
University of Glasgow
Jane
Gatrell
Carrie
Gaye
Na'amod / Jews for Justice for Palestinans

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