Dozens of British Jewish institutions face disciplinary sanctions for criticizing Israel
Thirty members of the largest body representing British Jews have signed an open letter criticizing Israel for facing disciplinary action in the war in Gaza.
In deepening signs of division among British Jews in the 18-month-old war, the Commission for Representatives announced this week that all 36 signators of the letter are now “under complaints” after “multiple complaints.”
Harriett Goldenberg’s man has been suspended as vice-chairman of the board’s international division, awaiting investigation. She was also asked to step down until the investigation was over, according to the Jewish Chronicle.
A statement from the board said the letter was not its “representative” to Israel’s policy. A special meeting of the Executive Committee was convened on Tuesday to “discuss the consequences and consequences of the bill.”
The board said the committee unanimously voted to pass the complaint process, which is expected to take at least four weeks.
The signatories of the letter published by the Financial Times said they could no longer “turn a blind eye or remain silent” to the Gaza war. They said, “The soul of Israel was deprived.”
They added: “The tendency to avoid eyes is strong because what is happening is unbearable, but our Jewish values force us to stand up and speak out loud.”
The statement from the Commission on Representatives has broadly supported the Israeli government after Hamas launched an attack on the Israeli people on October 7, 2023.
Board Chairman Phil Rosenberg said after this week’s Executive Committee meeting: “We take great importance to violations of the Code of Conduct… The Committee of Representatives is clear: Only honorary officials and authorized staff of our democratic elections speak on behalf of the organization.”
Last week, Board CEO Michael Wegier said a group of representatives “has announced their views in national publications, especially their identities as representatives, leading them to have many in our community making incorrect assumptions, and beyond that, the group is making official positions of the board, not.”
In an article in the Jewish Chronicle, he added: “In our community, the legal and often painful debates in our community visited the letter pages of the national newspaper and sowed the chaos of the status of the entire community, which is a short-sighted and dangerous precedent.”
Most of the signatories of the letter belong to the reform, liberal or Masotti community. Many complaints reportedly came from members of the United Synagogue, the largest public denomination in the UK.
Gordonburg has been contacted for comment.
