Board of Deputies of British Jews

Official Site: Board of Deputies of British Jews

The Board of Deputies of British Jews is the main representative body of British Jews. Founded in 1760 as a joint committee of the Sephardi (Spanish and Portuguese) and Ashkenazi (Central and Eastern European) Jewish communities in London it has since become a widely recognised forum for the views of the different sectors of the UK Jewish community.

The Board is currently led by Henry Grunwald QC, who was re-elected for a second three-year term in 2006. The four Vice-Presidents are Vivian Wineman, Dr Paul Edlin, Clive Lewisohn and Flo Kaufmann. Under the Presidency of Henry Grunwald the Jewish Community Leadership Council (subsequently renamed the Jewish Leadership Council) was established. The Council comprises the senior lay leaders of the major organisations in each sector of UK Jewish life together with a number of leaders appointed on an ad-personam basis. The President of the Board is normally the Chair of the Jewish Leadership Council and this development is seen to have extended the influence and reach of the Board's President.

A notable past President was the Victorian philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore, who in the nineteenth century travelled around the world assisting Jews facing persecution. More recently Greville Janner MP (now Lord Janner) was a President.

The Chief Executive of the Board is Jon Benjamin who succeeded Neville Nagler in 2005. Alexander Goldberg was appointed Communities Issues Director in 2006 and Liz Harris Public Affairs Director in 2007.

The Board receives Deputies elected by individual synagogues, confederations of synagogues, and other organisations within the Jewish community such as charities and youth groups. It serves as the principal reference point for government, the media and wider society. All matters tending to impact on the life of Jews in Britain fall within the Board's remit, including an active interfaith programme.

The Board of Deputies offices are situated in the family home of Isaac D'Israeli, the father of the British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.