The president of the Board of Deputies has urged members to remain civil with each other as a row over a public letter criticising the Israeli government deepens.
Last week, 36 members of the board wrote an open letter to the Financial Times blaming the Israeli government for breaking a ceasefire in Gaza and calling for an end to hostilities.
The Board’s leadership quickly responded that its more than 300 members overwhelmingly stood with Israel. On Monday, President Phil Rosenberg wrote to all deputies announcing an investigation into those behind the letter, and said that one of the signatories had been suspended.
In Rosenberg’s email, seen by the JC, he emphasised the need for respectful discourse, saying it was important that “none of us lose sight of civility and decency.”
“I am mindful of abuse that has been thrown around this issue both on social media and direct communications, and I utterly condemn it from whatever source and in whatever direction,” he added.
Social media platforms and WhatsApp groups have played host to a flurry of hostile commentary, with some messages targeting the 36 signatories of the letter.
Rosenberg stressed the Board’s “duty of care” to its deputies, saying: “we are committed to looking after all of our welfare together.”
“I would particularly request that deputies are thoughtful in their own commentary on this matter – both publicly and in private – and are respectful and considerate of each other, including those with whom they may have significant differences of opinion.”
The Board’s probe into the letter and the deputies who signed it is expected to take four weeks.
One signatory, Harriet Goldenberg, was temporarily suspended from her role as vice-chair of the Board’s international division and from her role on the executive, pending the investigation into alleged breaches of the Board’s code of conduct. Another, Nat Kunin, stepped back from his role as chair of the under-35 assembly.
In his email to deputies, Rosenberg acknowledged the emotional intensity of the past week. “This has been an extraordinarily challenging few days,” he wrote, adding: “it is very important that all of us now allow the Constitution Committee to undertake its work in a rigorous and independent manner.”
