British Jews : Recommended to present themselves as an ethnic minority [Playing the race card]

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Playing the race card

Because when tricking you to talk Ethnicity, well, a 6-by-9-foot prison cell is waiting for you !

Remember : Judaism is a Cult. Jewish people are by definition part of a religious extremist group.



Jewish Policy Research recommended in 2000 that British Jews should present themselves as an ethnic minority.

A Community of Communities: Report of the Commission on Representation of the Interests of the British Jewish Community:
Recommendations
Author(s): Commission on Representation of the Interests of the British Jewish Community
Published: Friday 31 Mar 2000

http://www.jpr.org.uk/publications/publication.php?id=97&sid=99

Jews have traditionally considered themselves a religious group rather than an ethnic one, and it was religion that stood in the way of Jews wishing to enter Parliament. Lionel Rothschild was the first practising Jew to sit in the House of Commons. He was first elected in 1847 but refused to take the traditional Christian oath of allegiance. Rothschild was elected five times by the voters of the City of London but it was not until the House changed its rules and allowed him to swear on the Old Testament, as a Jew, that he finally took his seat.

http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-01156.pdf

A Community of Communities: Report of the Commission on Representation of the Interests of the British Jewish Community:
Recommendations

The following section is in two parts: 'Principles for action' and 'Implementation of principles'. Both grew out of a consideration of the evidence, ideas and suggestions expressed during the consultative process.

Together they constitute a strategic direction that we believe will meet the current and emerging representational needs of the British Jewish community.

Principles for action

1. For the purposes of representation we should adopt an inclusive definition of the Jewish people and present ourselves as an ethnic minority.

Jews believe in, or are conscious of having, a common origin and destiny. Historically, for more than three centuries Jews in Britain were regarded as a religious minority. However, in recent decades, Jewish ethnicity has been officially recognized under the Race Relations Act of 1976. A government report stated in 1995:

It is a fundamental objective of the UK government to enable members of ethnic minorities to participate freely and fully in the economic, social and public life of the nation, with all the benefits and responsibilities which that entails, while still being able to maintain their own culture, traditions, language and values. (Home Office, 13th UK Periodic Report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Relating to the Period up to 31 July 1994 (London 1995))

We believe that for the purposes and benefits of representation the Jewish community needs to see itself in these terms: namely, as an ethnic group. It is this policy which offers the community the public space and the social and political climate in which it can pursue its efforts at representing itself.

2. We affirm the continuing relevance of the 'emancipation contract'.

The British Jewish community today still operates and exists on the basis of the emancipation contract: Jews have full legal and political equality with all other citizens before the law; they are free to form their own associations or to choose not to single themselves out as Jews in any way at all.

3. We are a community of communities.

We accept the analysis of a former president of the Board of Deputies, Israel Finestein, that to speak of one community is misleading. British Jewry has always consisted of "communities"-- distinguished geographically, religiously, socio-economically, ideologically, historically and by personality.

In adopting the principle of 'a community of communities',(Israel Finestein, 'A community of paradox: office, authority and ideas in the changing governance of Anglo-Jewry', in S. Ilan Troen (ed.), Jewish Centers and Peripheries: Europe between America and Israel 50 Years after World War II (New Brunswick, NJ, 1999), p 155) we also accept the principle of subsidiarity in representational activities. That is, we believe that groupings within the Jewish community should take and retain responsibility for representational activities that can be dealt with effectively at their own level.

4. Representation of the community must be seen as multi-faceted. There is no one best way, nor is one overarching organization or leader able, to speak on behalf of the entire community.

It follows from our understanding of contemporary Jewry in Britain that different sections of the community will make different demands on the government or express their interests in a different manner to various third parties.

We noted the growth of a 'free market' in representation, with a corresponding increase in the number of specialist and single-interest bodies. Like similar organizations in the wider society, they are generally a flexible, responsive and effective means of representing interests.

In view of the variety of issues to be represented, the range of effective voices available and our understanding of ourselves as a community of communities, we believe it is not possible, nor has it been possible of late, for any single organization or leader--religious or secular--to attempt to provide all British Jewry's representational activities or speak on behalf of the entire community.

We believe that this principle of multiple representation also lends itself to cooperation, coordination and even agreement to speak with one voice on certain issues when the need arises. In these circumstances it seems that collective representation can currently be carried out only on a non-ecclesiastical, non-rabbinical basis.

What should drive this process is (a) the nature of the representation that needs to be undertaken, (b) the ability to be proactive and make effective representation and (c) accountability, with the last constituting an essential component of credibility within the Jewish community. Such representation may involve, but is not necessarily associated with, democratic organizational structures. In the words of one of our interviewees: 'The extent to which you are considered representative is the extent to which you have consulted well.'

5. Effective representation needs to take into account the structural changes and changing tiers of government at local, regional, national and European levels.

As the internal and external structure of the UK is in the process of transition we need to realign our representational activities to address:

•constitutional change, including the reform of the House of Lords, proportional representation, and devolution and regionalization;

•changes in local government, including the emergence of the Greater London Authority and proposed changes in other metropolitan authorities, changes in local authority boundaries, changing roles of local government and the 'modernization' agenda;

•closer integration into the European Union, including the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into British law.

6. In order to carry out representation we need to take into account current and future trends and developments in the political, social and economic environment of the UK.

The withdrawal of the state from many areas of social and economic activity has put increased pressure on communities to provide for themselves. In particular, the retreat of the state from welfare provision puts pressure on voluntary organizations to provide more social, educational and housing services.

Because British Jewish communities are essentially clusters of voluntary organizations, the above trends offer new opportunities for forging creative partnerships with the broader voluntary sector in general and with governmental agencies, including the newly devolved regional and European institutions.

The dramatic expansion of information/communication technology (ICT), including the Internet, creates still more opportunities for various sectors of British Jewry to share knowledge and interact, both with each other and with Jewish communities in other countries.

7. British Jews are members of a global Jewish people and have responsibilities to represent Jewish interests wherever the need arises.

We affirm this principle particularly now, when our links with Israel and other Diaspora communities are subject to ongoing and rapid change due to social, political and economic developments world-wide.

It follows from this principle that effective representation of Jewish interests beyond Europe needs to take into account the changing dynamic of the relationships between Israel and the Diaspora, as well as among Diaspora communities themselves.

8. There is a clear need for reform in representation.

The accelerating rate of change in multiple sectors of British government and society precludes a piecemeal approach to reforming the method and means by which we carry out our representational interests. If our own response to that change is not implemented in a deliberate and strategic manner, we will be put at a disadvantage precisely at a time when our community's future is so closely linked with developments in the wider society. Jews in the UK therefore need to devise a systematic and proactive response in order to ensure that both the multiple voices of our community and the voice of our multiple communities are effectively heard.

9. There are viable models for community-wide cooperation on representational matters.

In contrast to the internal issues which can serve as a bar to dialogue and cooperation, we believe that a range of external concerns exists which relate to and affect British Jews as a whole. It is external issues such as these--the prime subject matter of representation--which provide us with an opportunity to respond in a coherent and focused way. Such concerns may range from the civic/secular, such as antisemitism and security, to the religious, such as circumcision and shechita (kosher slaughter of animals).

On specific religious matters, each grouping tends to organize its own representation. We have found that, depending on the need, religious groupings within the community will accept people beyond their communities to represent their interests; what is important for them is the manner in which representatives speak for them and the sensitivity shown to their beliefs and needs. It is therefore feasible to envisage a situation in which, without any religious group abandoning or compromising any of its principles, alliances can be formed on a pragmatic basis, in order to pursue certain issues.

10. The development of our human resources is a prerequisite for effective communal representation.

Effective representation requires informed leaders of high calibre. Given the diversity that prevails, quality leadership is needed in both governance and staffing. Talented individuals, irrespective of age and gender, must be able and encouraged to move through the system to the top. It is imperative that those who seek to represent the community be appropriately trained and informed.

Implementation of principles

1. A coordinating structure

The range of issues which organizations and individuals pursue in the wider society is considerable. Because they operate in what amounts to a free-market system, we do not propose to prescribe or proscribe issues that require representation. We are also keenly aware of the difficulty of direct communication and public consultation between some religious groups.

We therefore recommend the creation of an independent, cross-communal coordinating structure. This structure will serve as a network of organizations and will involve the senior lay and professional leaders concerned with representation.

The structure will require a small but highly professional and well-qualified staff. It will have no independent, executive function and no ecclesiastical or rabbinic authority. Rather than being empowered to speak on anyone's behalf, its primary role will be as a facilitator and catalyst. Working groups or committees could be established on an ad hoc or ongoing basis. Its aim will be to be flexible and outcome-oriented.

In the event that a unified communal response is required to any issue that arises, the structure will operate on a networking basis, assembling a group of appropriate voices, groups and interests within the community in order to discuss a collective response in an appropriate timescale. This response will then be disseminated by the network as a representative communal position.

The structure's remit will be to:

•operate according to the above principles;

•monitor and disseminate information on issues involving representation of the interests of the British Jewish communities;

•identify emerging issues by virtue of the network's knowledge base and stemming from its interaction with all the elements of the community;

•react to external issues when they emerge, if necessary facilitating targeted coalitions of Jewish organizations and agencies in order to formulate a strategic response;

•respond to requests from Jewish agencies and communal organizations throughout the UK for representation and for advice and consultation on how to carry out representation as the need arises;

•create and facilitate a forum for communal organizations to discuss and develop strategies on how to advance the representative agenda. Such a forum could range in format and include group meetings, formal assembly, mediated sessions and an electronic bulletin board in 'real time'.

This could be launched via an annual agenda-setting conference for the purpose of establishing priorities and creating long- and short-term strategies.

2. A development programme for future leaders

A change in the culture of communal organizations is necessary before new leaders will come forward. We believe this can happen through discussion and implementation of the recommended reforms and a systematic adoption of the principles we have set out. If the result is seen to be effective and efficient, and the key issues which are raised for discussion and action are recognized as directly affecting the future of the community, we believe that high-calibre leaders will come forward to fill formal leadership positions. Despite much lip service to similar recommendations in the past, the above aspiration has not been put into practice. This, too, must change.

To ensure a desirable level of knowledge and competence in the field of representation, we recommend the introduction of a high-quality training and development programme for professional and lay leaders. This programme should be designed to build a systematic body of knowledge about the effective conduct of representation that can be transmitted to potential leaders throughout their communal careers.

Part of this training should involve the creation of a syllabus which will help ensure that those involved in representation are well informed about the processes and methodology of representation. In general, based on our research, such a syllabus would include a knowledge of:

•the changing landscape of communal and governmental bodies on the local, regional, national and European levels as they relate to targets of representation;

•a working familiarity with the religious and ethnic composition, social structure and demography of the Jewish population in the UK and the corresponding range of views that exists in our community of communities;

•an awareness of the history of British Jewry as it relates to its governance and formal status as a 'dissenting religious minority' in the UK and in its relationship to the European and international community;

•Jewish thought and practice relevant to issues of representation.

3. An independent mass media and resource office

We are keenly aware of the role which the mass media play in acting as a window on the Jewish community, through both their coverage of formal.representation and their reporting of cultural events and communal controversies, as well as religious, ethical and social issues. Jewish views on a wide range of issues are publicly aired as a result of the media seeking out people to comment on newsworthy events, appear in documentaries, participate in discussion programmes and provide quotes for newspaper articles. Since the media are free agents and can approach whomsoever they wish, they possess a great deal of control over how Jews, Judaism, the community and the issues it faces are portrayed.

To facilitate the expression of more informed, developed and educated views, we recommend the establishment of an independent mass media and resource office which would act as a clearing house for putting the mass media into contact with leaders, rabbis, experts and commentators on an impartial basis. One way that the office would achieve this impartiality would be by always (wherever possible) offering the media the opportunity of speaking to more than one person or organization. It should also supply briefings to individuals who are asked to present their views on issues of Jewish concern.

Those running the office would need a comprehensive and sophisticated knowledge and understanding of the range of issues and problems which do and might interest the media.

The way forward

We urgently recommend full discussion of this report in the community. It is the hope of the Commission that British Jewry will incorporate the three recommendations we have outlined into the work of representation on the basis of the ten principles for action we have outlined above. In addition, an appropriate funding structure should be put into place to enable the establishment and continuing effective operation of the bodies specified in Recommendations 1, 2 and 3. We acknowledge that the linkages between all three bodies, both formal and informal, also need to be addressed.

Finally, clear initiatives need to be taken in order to report on, stimulate and lead this communal discussion, as well as to monitor progress towards the implementation of the above recommendations. The challenge to existing leaders and organizations therefore is this: to assume responsibility for such initiatives and to commit to carrying them out.

http://www.jpr.org.uk/publications/publication.php?id=97&sid=99

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