Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg pledged to visit every nation and region of the UK during his first year in office. With just one week remaining, he fulfilled that promise with a visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland, accompanied by the Board’s Deputy and Community Engagement Manager, Sara Radivan.
Their visit began with a meeting at the Belfast Synagogue, where they met with members of the local Jewish community. Over lunch, Phil addressed the synagogue council, with the Board’s Jewish Living Experience exhibition, gifted to the community from the Board, serving as a fitting backdrop.
They also connected with the city’s growing young Jewish community, particularly members of Belfast Young Jewish Professionals.
Their second day in Belfast was spent at the Northern Ireland Assembly, at which they were joined by the President and Vice Chair of the Belfast Jewish community, and met with Northern Ireland Assembly members. They met with Leader of the DUP Gavin Robinson and members of the DUP, Mike Nesbitt, Leader of the UUP and Steve Aiken, Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party Eoin Tennyson and members of the Alliance. Unfortunately Sinn Fein and the SDLP did not respond to requests to meet.
“At each meeting Jewish Culture Month was warmly received. Discussions also centred around the current situation in Israel and the ongoing hostage crisis, with cross-party support expressed for the release of the hostages.
The two-day visit concluded with a whirlwind tour of Belfast, taking in key landmarks including the Peace Wall, Titanic Quarter, and the historic Crown Bar.
Following the visit, President Phil Rosenberg said: “I am proud to have fulfilled my promise to visit every nation and region of the United Kingdom in my first year in office. Belfast’s Jewish community has a fascinating history and an important role to play in the future of Northern Ireland, as it seeks to move from a past of sectarian violence to increasing cohesion and peace”.