21 April 2016

Rabbi Harry Jacobi has given testimony to the House of Commons about his refugee journey to the UK, escaping Nazi persecution in May 1940, in order to help politicians understand the experience of today’s young refugees.

Harry spoke powerfully alongside former Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Lord Alf Dubs, actress Juliet Stevenson and speakers from Save the Children and other charities in a cross-party briefing about the dangers faced by those fleeing war and persecution, especially unaccompanied children.

Lord Dubs has proposed an amendment, approved by the House of Lords, to allow 3,000 unaccompanied minors fleeing persecution to join relatives in the UK. The House of Commons will debate this amendment on Monday April 25, the third day of Pesach.

Liberal Judaism is asking its members to sign a petition to help convince members of all parties in the House of Commons to pass this law. The petition can be signed here.

Rabbi Richard Jacobi – Harry’s son and co-chair of Liberal Judaism’s Rabbinic Conference – said: “This is a very important, and timely, petition. As we prepare for Pesach, please sign and share the petition so that we can stop children being drawn into slavery (literally) and give them freedom.”