My first year of challenges, progress – and Jewish pride

Next Monday, on June 1, I will mark one year since taking office as president of the Board of Deputies. It has been a year of profound challenges for our community, but also one of real progress and renewed pride in who we are and what we stand for.

From day one, we have faced the worst wave of antisemitism many of us have ever known. War raged in Gaza, and the community was intensely anxious about the hostages held by Hamas. There was acute disquiet about the BBC’s coverage of the conflict. I have always believed in interfaith cooperation, but Middle East tensions were straining Jewish-Muslim relations here in the UK. Jewish employees faced workplace difficulties, and we also had internal issues to address – starting with the fact that deputies had elected an all-male honorary officer team.

From the outset, it was important to set out our five priorities: to fight antisemitism; stand up for peace and security in Israel and the Middle East; defend our religious freedoms; build a more united, inclusive and outward-looking community; and celebrate our faith, heritage and culture as British Jews.

Of these, none has loomed larger than fighting antisemitism. We launched a Commission on Antisemitism, led by big-hitters Lord Mann and Penny Mordaunt, which is now nearing completion and will offer a serious roadmap for tackling hate. We have worked with government to strengthen laws protecting synagogues and other places of worship. In partnership with the police, we have helped move protests away from Jewish areas – restoring a measure of peace of mind for the community.

With tensions running high between communities, we launched the Optimistic Alliance between Jewish and Muslim leaders and played a key role in the historic Drumlanrig Accords, which is a formal commitment to peace and dialogue between faiths.

Accountability has also been essential. When public broadcasters allow bias to go unchecked, we speak out. We have had numerous robust meetings with the BBC and will continue to push for change. The departure of Gary Lineker from the BBC is not just about one individual, it is a reminder that we demand fairness from those who shape national debate.

Keeping the hostages in the public consciousness has been a core focus. We have held weekly vigils at Westminster whenever Parliament is sitting and led national campaigns around Pesach, Chanukah and Succot. This week, we asked supporters to change their profile pictures in solidarity as the hostages endured their 600th day in captivity.

We have made real progress on religious freedoms, launching a new Employer’s Guide to Judaism and supporting Jewish staff networks. We also secured a landmark letter from Health Secretary Wes Streeting committing to tackling prejudice in the NHS.

Internally, in response to the all-male honorary officer team, we launched a gender equality plan within 100 days – and went on to form the first gender-balanced executive in the Board’s 265-year history.

Our commitment to the regions and nations of the UK is stronger than ever. We ring-fenced £100,000 for regional initiatives and reinvigorated regional plenaries. I pledged to visit every region and nation within my first year, and with this week’s visit to Northern Ireland, I will have fulfilled that promise.

I have long believed it is not right that Holocaust Memorial Day should be the only public commemoration of Jewish life. Nor should Holocaust education be the only compulsory education about Jews. For that reason, I announced on Sunday the launch of British Jewish Culture Month, running from May 16 to June 14, 2026, during the Hebrew month of Sivan. This initiative will highlight Jewish joy, creativity, and the richness of our contribution to Britain. It’s time to shift the narrative – from one of “oy” to one of joy.

It has been a difficult time for all of us. But resilience is in our DNA. We have overcome the Shoah, pogroms, and the Farhud. And we will come through the legacy of October 7 too – together, stronger and prouder.