Latest news with #BritishJewish
Channel 4
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Channel 4
‘Outrageous' to blame world leaders for Israeli embassy deaths
Before Prime Minister Netanyahu made his statement, we spoke to Labour Peer Lord Levy – a leading voice in the British Jewish community. His cousin Emily Damari was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th and released this January. He has condemned the Israeli government's assault on Gaza and has come out in support of the British government's move to suspend trade talks with Israel. We asked him, if as a member of the Jewish community, he feels increasingly unsafe?
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
WW2 veteran's plea ahead of VE Day after seeing concentration camp horror firsthand
As a young British Jewish soldier Mervyn Kersh was 'on a mission' when he joined up in World War II but nothing could prepare him for the horrors he saw and wants the world to remember Heroic veteran Mervyn Kersh fears his 'memories are fading' as the 80th anniversary of VE Day approaches and he is urging the British public to remember those who died in World War II. 'It is important to remember, to make sure we don't forget, if we don't remember they will do the same again,' the veteran warns But the 100 year old told The Mirror t here are some things he will never forget, such as meeting the survivors at Belsen concentration camp in Germany after it was liberated. Nothing could prepare Mervyn for the unbearable horrors he saw as a young British Jewish soldier in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He went to Belsen first for a week, talking to the people who were able to walk and come out of camp. He was not allowed in because of Typhoid. 'They were all in their striped uniform, they were all very emaciated, their arms just bones,' he described. "A lot of the inmates released were very ill, most of them couldn't move. You couldn't tell their age because of their looks. In two weeks, many thousands died after the liberation. ' The camp was liberated on April 15, 1945, where 60,000 starving people were found after 100,000 had died there. A week later, desperate former Belsen captives who were able flooded Hanover railway station, desperately seeking news on loved ones. 'Those who could, walked to Hanover station, it was the railway hub of Germany and they were hoping to meet someone who knew something about their own families. They didn't talk about what happened to them, they only spoke about the future. I'd ask 'what was it like' and they'd say; 'No! Tomorrow.' Mervyn recalls. 'A lot of them had been marched to Bergen-Belsen from other camps and anyone who'd dropped out was shot. So they just had to carry on. So they were used to walking. They were all in their striped uniforms. They were made to see it as a uniform of shame. When I saw them their despair had turned to hope. The war had ended, they knew it.' Mervyn was desperate to help the survivors so used his chocolate rations. 'The British Army issued us with a bar of chocolate and 50 cigarettes a week,' he said, explaining how he swapped his cigarettes for more chocolate because he didn't smoke. When I took them out of my pockets and showed them, their faces lit up as I gave it to them. Their faces lit up so much I thought 'I must get more'. 'So every day I went round the camp, round the barracks, collecting to take them more. I had about 30 or 40 with me when I went afterwards. They came up and took the chocolate, saying 'thank you', and they went off. Their faces lit up. They hadn't seen chocolate for years. And if they're like me, they love chocolate.," he said, as he points to chocolate on display around his kitchen. As he sits stroking one of his two beloved cats, at his lovely home in north London, Mervyn said: 'Years later I was told chocolate is the worst thing you can give to someone who is starving, it could kill them. I wondered what happened to them and I still do.' Soon after these horrifying scenes, Mervyn was on a train heading away from the misery. The train was 'sealed' because of the ongoing threat in Germany. The Germans had armed youngsters and told them to shoot at any allied soldiers they saw after they were overrun, so the trains were boarded up. The lights were dimmed for the same reason.' As a result Mervyn explained: 'I had nothing to do so I just slept. I slept for 36 hours to get to Bruges. ' When he emerged from the gloomy train, Mervyn could hear music and saw people dancing in the streets. He was told: 'The war's over. Germany's surrendered'. 'I'd slept through the whole of VE Day,' he said. 'I must have been the last in Europe to hear the war was over. I was a bit disappointed not to be present when it did actually end. ' But Mervyn immediately joined in the giant party: 'I danced around even though I can't dance. So I joined them for about an hour or so, and then I think I carried on to get a boat back to the UK.' Once back in the UK he headed straight home to Brixton Hill, South London and knocked on his mum's door. He recalled: 'I'd been in Egypt for six months and of course it was very hot and I was stripped to the waist most of the time and I also lost a lot of weight. I was seven stone when I came home. So I knocked on her door unexpectedly, my mother thought I was coming the next day. She came to the door and said, 'Can I help you?' As if I was a stranger. I said 'It's Mervyn'. I'm your son.' I was surprised she didn't recognize me.' Other relatives were at his family home still celebrating the end of the war, so once again Mervyn joined the party. For decades now Mervyn has devoted his life to sharing his memories of World War II. Some of them refuse to fade for the D-Day veteran, such as meeting fellow Jews who had lived in terror in Nazi occupied France. There was a Jewish service and those in hiding appeared clearly 'emotional'. Meryvn explained: ' One of them had been in an attic, the other one said he'd been in a wardrobe. He didn't come out of a wardrobe in four years". Then he said he vividly recalls when he crossed into Germany turning from 'liberators' to "conquerors" with the British troops . 'I saw the German officers were very very scruffy and dirty, half dressed. A lot of them didn't have their hats on with jackets open, very slovenly at that stage I suppose they were trying to hide. I took pride in telling them I was Jewish. 'Ich Bin Jude' and watched their faces. They were amazed. There were thousands of them going back behind the lines. I don't think they'd ever met a Jew, just knew what they'd been told." He points out: 'This is why it's important to find out for yourself. To ask questions and not believe everything you're told." Mervyn, who was awarded the Legion d'Honneur by the French, said because he was Jewish he joined the army on a 'crusade' and that continues as he devotes his time to sharing his story around the world. 'There used to be millions of British troops left but now they think there's 200. I intend to be the last man standing.'
Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Times
Inside the Gaza row splitting the British Jewish board
When Phil Rosenberg became president of Britain's largest Jewish representative body, he vowed to become a 'unifying figure' and stressed that he was 'not frightened' by the community's diverse views on difficult issues, including Israel. Under his leadership, he pledged that the Board of Deputies of British Jews would proudly echo every corner of the community as it grappled with the fallout of the October 7 attacks. 'I'm not scared to speak to people on my right or on my left, because I often find, genuinely, you learn something from people, if you listen,' he told Jewish News after his appointment last May. • British Jewish leaders condemn Netanyahu's Gaza offensive Almost a year later, however, the board is facing an unprecedented challenge amid signs
Middle East Eye
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK: Rabbis condemn Israel in latest show of Jewish opposition to Gaza war
A group of rabbis in the UK have condemned Israel's assault on Gaza in the latest public indication of growing dissent and opposition to the conflict within British Jewish communities. In a letter published in the Financial Times on Friday, 30 Jewish religious leaders called on Israel to end its renewed bombing campaign and to allow aid into Gaza. They also appeared to show support for 36 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the UK's largest representative Jewish organisation, who are facing disciplinary action after speaking out about the conflict. Referring to a previous letter in the same newspaper, in which the 36 board members said they could no longer 'turn a blind eye or remain silent', the rabbis said they were also 'horrified' by Israel's actions. 'We feel it is our duty to remind Israel's leaders of the core Jewish teaching that war can never be waged for revenge or expansion. The Israeli government must uphold international law, and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza,' they wrote. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'We stand with all those in Israel-Palestine seeking to bring about a just and lasting peace. We share in their call for an end to the bombing; an end to the siege; and the safe release of the hostages.' The rabbis' intervention appears to hint at growing frustration and impatience within British Jewish communities towards the staunchly pro-Israel stance and claims to leadership of conservative Jewish institutions such as the Board of Deputies. Signatories of the letter include prominent figures within both Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism. Among them are Robyn Ashworth-Steen, co-chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors; Paul Freedman, senior rabbi at Radlett Reform Synagogue; Laura Janner-Klausner, rabbi at Bromley Reform Sylenagogue; Jeffrey Newman, emeritus rabbi at Finchley Reform Synagogue; and Gabriel Kanter-Webber, rabbi at Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue. The letter's publication comes after the Board of Deputies suspended a member of its executive committee and began disciplinary proceedings against all 36 members who signed last week's letter to the FT. That letter was described by the FT as the 'the first public show of opposition' to Israel's war by members of the board, which refers to itself as 'the voice of the British Jewish Community'. 'Israel's soul is being ripped out' As well as condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for breaking the ceasefire in Gaza, the letter also condemned violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and accused the government of "extremism" which threatened Israeli democracy. "Israel's soul is being ripped out and we, members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, fear for the future of the Israel we love and have such close ties to," they wrote. But the letter was quickly denounced by the board's leadership. Chief executive Michael Wegier accused the signatories of 'misrepresenting our community', while its president Phil Rosenberg noted that the letter was only signed by about 10 percent of the board's members. After meeting Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in London last week, Rosenberg wrote on social media: 'Jewish leadership is standing up for peace & security in Israel & the Middle East: Getting hostages out, defeating Hamas, pursuing lasting peace & security. Unity is strength. Division serves only our enemies.' Middle East Eye has asked the Board of Deputies for comment.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jewish faith leaders under investigation after criticising Israel
Three dozen Jewish faith leaders are under investigation by the Board of Deputies of British Jews after publishing an open letter criticising Israel's war in Gaza. The letter published by the Financial Times last week, which was signed by 36 members of the board, rebuked Israel's military response to the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas. The board, which is the UK's largest Jewish community organisation made up of more than 300 faith leaders, initially said its members represented the 'diverse constituencies' of British Jews. But in a new statement on Tuesday, the board emphasised that the letter did not represent its view on the 18-month conflict and all signatories of the open letter now face a disciplinary process. It said: 'Following the publication of the letter by 36 deputies in the Financial Times last week that was not representative of the board of deputies' policy on Israel, the board of deputies today (Tuesday) convened an extraordinary meeting of the executive committee to discuss the ramifications and consequences of this act. 'The board of deputies can now confirm following multiple complaints by deputies and the public, all 36 signatories of the letter to the Financial Times are now subject to a complaints procedure. 'All deputies and under-35 observers subject to complaints procedures have been informed of the complaints made against them and the process to be adopted.' The board said that the investigation is likely to take at least four weeks. Phil Rosenberg, the president of the board, added: 'We take alleged breaches of the code of conduct very seriously. 'I am grateful to the constitution committee for the speed with which they have reviewed the initial complaints, and it is right that they are now given the time and space to review the cases with due process and impartiality. 'The board of deputies is clear – only our democratically-elected honorary officers and authorised staff speak on behalf of the organisation.' In the letter, which was published in the Financial Times last Wednesday, the 36 members of the board said they could not 'turn a blind eye' to Palestinian civilian casualties. 'We write as representatives of the British Jewish community, out of love for Israel and deep concern for its future,' they said. 'The inclination to avert our eyes is strong, as what is happening is unbearable, but our Jewish values compel us to stand up and to speak out.' A fragile ceasefire established earlier this year came to a sudden end in March with targeted Israeli air strikes against senior Hamas military officials. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has said a lasting peace is only possible on the condition that Hamas is destroyed once and for all. But the signatories to the letter insisted the most successful way to bring home the 59 hostages still held in captivity by Hamas was 'through diplomacy' rather than warfare. They added: 'This most extremist of Israeli governments is openly encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, strangling the Palestinian economy and building more new settlements than ever. 'Silence is seen as support for policies and actions that run contrary to our Jewish values.' The Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry has said that tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in the past year-and-a-half of violence. There have been questions about the reliability of the mortality data produced by the health ministry, and estimates vary as to how many people have been killed.
