The Board of Deputies doesn't speak for me!

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The Board of deputies doesn't speak for me!

The Board of Deputies (or BoD) calls itself the ‘voice of the Jewish community in Britain’.

So does it speak for you?

If not, and you are a member of an affiliated synagogue or other organisation, there’s something you can do about it – stop paying for it!

Scroll down to find out how.

Here’s a quick recap.

In the last few years, the BoD has…

… failed to represent UK Jews who are deeply disturbed by the expansion of Israel’s illegal settlements, the 17-year blockade of Gaza, the killing of over 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, among them 15,000 children and 10,000 women, the wholesale destruction of civilian infrastructure, starvation of Gaza’s civilian population and the brutal military occupation and human rights abuses in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

… failed to support efforts towards accountability and justice at an international level.

… been calling for intensified restrictions on marches for a ceasefire from the Met police and government.

… dismissed the 280-page Amnesty International report on Israeli apartheid as a ‘preposterous smear’ without meaningful engagement. This is despite the consensus among leading human rights groups – including Israel’s B’Tselem – that life in Israel-Palestine is organised under a single principle: ‘cementing the supremacy of one group – Jews – over another – Palestinians’.

… been a key player in calling for the ‘confusing and divisive‘ IHRA definition of antisemitism to be adopted by British institutions – a definition that consistently conflates antisemitism with legitimate criticism of Israeli policies, thereby making it harder to combat antisemitism.

… has successfully campaigned to introduce the Anti-Boycott Bill in Parliament – legislation that prevents public bodies taking ethical decisions on investments in view of environmental and human rights abuses, including on products from the illegal settlements.

To read more of ‘The Board of Deputies in its own words’ – what it says and what it doesn’t – click here.

So does the BoD speak for you?

If the answer is NO and you are a member of an affiliate synagogue or organisation, you can choose not to pay their voluntary ‘communal contribution’ of £2.92 per month, which is taken from your membership fees.

Your contribution sustains the BoD and gives weight to its claim to be the ‘voice of the Jewish community in Britain’.

But you don’t have to pay it. You can choose to withdraw it today.

Here’s how in 3 easy steps:

1. Find out if your organisation or synagogue is affiliated, and whether you pay the £35.04 annual communal contribution, expand the list below:

Board of Deputies - Affiliate synagogues and organisations

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2. Contact your organisation, tell them you no longer wish to pay the charge – and why. Scroll down for a suggested email template

3. Sign the ‘BoD doesn’t speak for me’ pledge below

SUGGESTED EMAIL TEXT:

Subject line: NOTICE TO WITHDRAW PAYMENT TO BOARD OF DEPUTIES

Dear ,

I am writing to withdraw my communal contribution to the Board of Deputies of British Jews of £2.92 per month from my fees with immediate effect because it no longer reflects my values or beliefs. The Board claims to be the ‘voice of the Jewish Community in Britain’. In withdrawing my payment I would like to underscore that the Board of Deputies does not speak for me and cannot make that claim of representation.

Please respond to confirm this email has been received and let me know the date of final payment.

Thank you and best wishes,

NAME

DATE

ADDRESS

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS