Wednesday 13 March 2013

March Update

It's all been pretty busy at the Board over the last few months.  After the 'excitement' of the January Plenary when the Board passed the motion to partner with Oxfam on training up 25 jewish volunteers to develop projects that in some way relate to food and poverty, there's been a lot going on.

For example, last week the Board hosted a packed event with the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP. An audience of 300 heard him talk movingly about his family history and also about his vision for the United Kingdom, before putting questions to him on a variety of topics, including Israel and boycotts, Iran, immigration and integration, the NHS and a matter surprisingly close to his heart, baseball. 

He also confirmed that he would protect kosher animal slaughter and Jewish circumcisions, practices that have come under fire elsewhere in Europe. 
On boycotts of Israel, he not only stressed his opposition but said that he was prepared to say the same to trade unionists who have been at the forefront of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign in the UK, but who were also largely responsible for his election as Labour leader. Boycotts “are totally wrong,” Miliband said. “I have no tolerance for boycotts. I will say it to any trade union member who asks me. You don’t create a two-state solution with boycotts.” 


Don't forget, if anyone has anything they want us to raise with the Board, or if you want to know more about what we're doing, please do get in touch with me or with Jerry Lewis, Hampstead's other Deputy.