The Board of Deputies of British Jews exists to protect and defend the rights and
freedoms of British Jewry. These same rights and freedoms have evolved over many
years and are enjoyed by Jews in Great Britain today. But events are seldom static.
Changes to legislation, campaigns by special interest groups, outright attacks on Jews
and Israel–all require a concerted response.

As the community’s representative organisation, the Board of Deputies is able to engage
with government, the media and wider society, providing a vehicle through which British
Jews have a voice. It is with pride that the Board of Deputies represents the rights and
interests of British Jews in every walk of life. Below are some of the core things we do
every day.

In the area of defence and group relations we:

• combat anti-Semitism

• foster relations with faith groups and wider society

• monitor moves affecting shechita and brit milah

• consult with Government on proposed legislation

• respond to racist activities

In the Jewish and wider community we:

• promote Jewish schooling and education and run the ‘Pikuach’ inspection service for
Jewish Studies;

• create long-term policy strategies through the work of our Community Policy Research
Group think-tank;

• engage in interfaith and environmental initiatives; and

• display the pioneering Jewish Way of Life Exhibition to non-Jewish children.

On the international stage we:

• represent the interests of British Jewry in Europe and around the world;

• consult on areas affecting Diaspora Jewry with the British government and foreign
embassies in the UK;

• monitor European legislation; and

• work to enhance the understanding of Israel and its pursuit of peace and security;

It is important to remember that the Board of Deputies does these things by protecting
the freedoms of British Jewry everyday. In the last 18 months, for example we

• headed off government proposals to bring in quotas to Jewish schools, and leading the
way on a national faith schools linking programme;

• launched the Big Green Jewish Website, merging Jewish tradition and environmental
concerns;

• protested against the mass murder in Darfur, drawing on the lessons of the Holocaust;

• organised demonstrations and lobbied to free captured Israeli soldiers;

• combating anti-Israel campaigns wherever they emerge, most recently in the Church and
academia;

• are directing a voter registration drive against extremism in the run up to the local London
elections in May; and

• are spearheading with the CST the Jewish Human Rights Coalition UK, a U.N. Durban
Review task-force

But most importantly, we’re your Board of Deputies – protecting and defending the rights
and interests of British Jews since 1760. With your help we’ll be doing so for the next 248
years as well!

Extremist parties, most notably the British National Party, are

preparing local election campaigns in a number of local

authorities across the country, as well as in London for the

Greater London Authority and other elected offices, including

that of Mayor. The threshold for them to gain a seat on the

GLA, together with the public funds that then become

available, is a mere 5 per cent of the vote.

The good news is that extremist and racist candidates can be

stopped from securing elected office if the turnout is

sufficiently high, and so every vote cast on the day counts.

This is why the Board of Deputies has launched an awareness

and voter registration drive in the lead-up to the May

elections. Register, vote, and if necessary, obtain a postal

vote.

A core text of the Passover Hagadah is the reminder, “In

every generation they rise up against us…” It is a cautionary

adage that should awaken our responsibility to fight

complacency and to work with people of all faiths to ensure

that we live in a peaceful and tolerant society.

Each vote for a mainstream party is a vote against extremism.

Vote and you help guarantee that our voice will be heard. Stay

theirs. It’s really that simple.