Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah 1 May 2016 The Labour Party has become embroiled in a row about anti-Semitism. Why the row? After all, the Labour Party is committed to challenging racism and anti-Semitism – which is a particular form of racism. It’s a row because the anti-Semitism in question … Read More
Rabbi Danny Rich’s statement on Ken Livingstone and Labour
28 April 2016 As the Senior Rabbi of Liberal Judaism, and a long-term member of the Labour Party in a personal capacity, I am certainly not someone who Ken Livingstone can write off as one of his “usual critics”. But today, like Jews and people of all faiths, I was … Read More
Closing our hearts and minds to refugee children are not the actions of a world-leading moral country
Rabbi Harry Jacobi 27 April 2016 Huffington Post UK It was with great upset that I watched the debate and votes in the House of Commons on Monday night, where MPs defeated an amendment to allow 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees into Britain. Like so many people in this country – … Read More
Rabbi Harry Jacobi ‘saddened and upset’ by refugee vote
26 April 2016 Liberal Judaism vice president Rabbi Harry Jacobi has told of his upset after the Government narrowly defeated a cross-party bid to get the UK to accept 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees. Harry – who twice fled the Nazis as a teenager – likened last night’s result in the … Read More
Senior rabbi calls for 3,000 refugee children to come to England
25 April 2016 The Jewish News One of Britain’ most prominent Rabbis and a refugee from Nazi Germany has called for 3,000 unaccompanied children to be allowed into the UK. Rabbi Harry Jacobi, 90 called for a greater intake of refugee children, whilst backing an amendment to a refugee bill … Read More
We must help child refugees find their families
23 April 2016 The Telegraph Sir – We were shocked by the entirely preventable death of Muhammad Hassan, a 17-year-old asylum-seeker. He died on April 1 while trying to reach his uncle in Manchester. Despite having a legal right to join his family while his asylum claim was processed, he … Read More
Students threaten break with NUS after election of new president
Richard Adams 22 April 2016 The Guardian Students at a string of student unions including York and Oxford are agitating to reject membership of the National Union of Students, in the wake of the election of Malia Bouattia as the NUS’s national president amid allegations of antisemitism. But while students … Read More
Yvette Cooper joins Rabbi Harry Jacobi in refugee call
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 … Read More
Rabbi Leah Jordan comments on the election of Malia Bouattia as NUS President
Rabbi Leah Jordan 21 April 2016 With her history of commitment to anti-racism activism, the election of Malia Bouattia as the first black Muslim woman president of the NUS is exciting for what it represents for liberation politics in the student movement. Liberal Judaism, and the Jewish students I work … Read More
Hardliners ‘alienating diaspora from Israel’
Nathan Jeffay 1 April 2016 The Jewish Chronicle Fears that Netanyahu will backtrack on historic Kotel deal under Charedi pressure Rabbis and community leaders around the world have warned that extremist stances taken by Israel’s Charedi leadership are alienating members of the diaspora. This week, the Israeli government was poised … Read More