The Board of Deputies has suspended five of the 36 deputies who signed a letter published in the Financial Times condemning Israel's actions in Gaza, saying that they had given the “misleading impression” that their letter reflected the official position of the Board as a whole.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Board said a panel of its constitution committee had investigated the letter’s signatories and unanimously found the group in breach of the organisation’s code of conduct. Those behind the press release and subsequent media appearances were found to have committed more serious violations.
"The Board is a democratic and representative organisation, of which all Deputies are members, and are entitled to express their opinions freely,” the Board’s statement read. “Thus, the Panel was clear in its findings that the breaches do not refer to content of the letter but to the behaviour of the signatories, to a greater or lesser extent, in using their positions as Deputies to promote it.”
The letter to the Finanical Times signed by the 36 deputies stated in part: “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” and claimed Israel’s policies in Gaza run “contrary to our Jewish values”.
Thirty-one of the deputies who signed the letter received a formal “notice of criticism” sent to them and their constituencies – along with a warning that any future breach could result in suspension. Five additional signatories were given harsher penalties for their role in the letter’s promotion.
The ban effectively means the elected deputies are banned from the Board for the rest of the triennial term.
Deputies were informed of the Board’s decision on Tuesday evening, at the same time as the press. The JC understands that the group will meet online later today to discuss next steps; they have 14 days to appeal the findings should they choose to do so.
The Board’s disciplinary action against the 36 followed the publication of the FT letter and an accompanying press release which described the Board as “the voice of the British Jewish Community and first port of call for the UK Government and UK press”. The release did not clarify that the 36 signatories represented approximately 10 per cent of the Board’s more than 300 members.
Deputies were found to have breached three key parts of the code of conduct: misrepresenting their personal views as those of the Board, bringing the organisation into disrepute, and failing to act “ethically and with integrity and probity”.
The five suspended deputies are Harriett Goldenberg, who was vice chair of the Board’s International Division and appeared on Sky News; Philip Goldenberg, a lawyer and Liberal Democrat councillor who appeared on the BBC World at One; Baron Frankal, chief executive of the Portland Trust, which supports Palestinian economic initiatives, who spoke to Channel 4 News; Robert Stone, who went on LBC; and Rebecca Singerman-Knight.
They have been barred from the Board’s meetings for two years. Three of the five have been offered a reduced suspension of six months if they issue an apology to the affected parties.
Explaining the rationale behind the suspensions, the Board said: “In the cases of five deputies, additional sanctions should be applied due to other activities undertaken in relation to the letter. These included: deputies who contributed to the misleading press release; deputies who made public appearances in breach of guidance from the Board to identify themselves as representatives of their constituencies; a deputy whose social media posts were disrespectful to other deputies, and a deputy who sent inappropriate communications to the panel.
“In light of the seriousness of these breaches and in line with the code, the executive has agreed to suspend these five deputies from the Board’s activities for two years and remove them where applicable from elected positions they hold within the Board. In three of these five cases, the deputies have been given the opportunity to reduce the suspension to six months by way of an apology to affected parties.”
A different panel investigated a complaint against a separate deputy who shared information about the FT letter signatories to a third party, who published the information. A notice of criticism was sent to this deputy and their constituency.
Board Chief Executive Michael Wegier thanked the chair and constitution committee “for investigating this matter fully and fairly”.
He added: “We are a democratic organisation that welcomes debate, diversity and free speech. Managing diversity of opinion within our organisation depends on our code of conduct. That code ensures deputies do not create misunderstandings about the position of the Board or its members, do not bring the institution into disrepute, and treat one another and the institution with respect.
“By implementing these sanctions, we have acted to uphold the integrity of the Board and its diverse stakeholders.”
The JC contacted all of the five banned deputies for comment.
All of the suspended deputies represent Progressive synagogues. Responding to the conclusion of the investigation, a spokesperson for Progressive Judaism said: "We note that the Board states that ‘all Deputies are entitled to express their opinions freely’ and that this decision was taken due to a breach of the Board’s Code of Conduct, and not because of any specific views expressed by the Deputies.
"A key principle of Progressive Judaism is diversity of voice. We believe that the Jewish community, and the world, benefits from such robust and open dialogue, in which we seek to disagree respectfully. We therefore hope that the Board’s decision will not be used by anyone to seek to silence these important conversations."
The spokesperson said the movement is “seeking to arrange an information evening with the Board for leaders and members in our congregations who wish to find out more.”
Despite the conclusion of the investigation, the fault lines exposed by the letter – which was backed by members affiliated with Liberal and Reform congregations, not those from the United Synagogue, the largest denomination in the UK – remain.
Their April letter was followed by a second letter in the FT, signed by more than 25 Liberal and Reform rabbis and one cantor, calling on the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza, uphold international law and allow humanitarian aid into the Strip.
Nonetheless, several of the Progressive communities whose deputies signed the first letter are believed to have misunderstood how it would be presented, and some deputies did not ask their communities before adding their name to the letter.
The chair of Finchley Reform Synagogue voiced concern about several of the shul’s deputies failing to consult their council before signing the letter.
Cardiff Reform Synagogue’s deputy apologised for signing the letter, saying he had believed it would be an “internal” Board document, not for publication.
Some United Synagogue members reportedly threatened to disaffiliate from the Board in protest.
