Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg has reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Jewish communities at the organisation’s regional weekend in Brighton and Hove.
After a few years when it had not proven possible to run a regional weekend, Phil Rosenberg pledged to restore it has part of his presidential campaign last year.
He hailed “Another pledge delivered”, when speaking to Deputies at the meeting at Brighton’s Ralli Hall, saying: “Regional engagement is an absolute commitment of ours. In my first year as president, I have visited every nation and region of this country. We look to continue to build on it and to develop it, to ensure the maximum inclusion of every part of the UK.”
In his address to the meeting, Phil also spoke about the aftermath of the antisemitism controversy at Glastonbury. He said: “Some in the Palestinian solidarity movement have just lost the plot. I think many of us would share what most people in that movement have as concerns about humanitarian issues. But when you have people engaging in support for terror or other antisemitism, that crosses a line, and we’ve got to be absolutely clear in calling it out. It’s not trendy or edgy to support terrorism or support terrorist organisations. It is against the law. And we will insist that the law is upheld”.
During the weekend, Deputies attended services at all three of Brighton and Hove’s synagogues. There were also talks by musician Josh Breslaw of the band Oi Va Voi, who spoke about the challenges of Jewish performers being cancelled, and by high-profile vet and animal rights campaigner Dr Marc Abraham.
Following the weekend, Phil Rosenberg said: “It was a pleasure to spend this weekend in Brighton and to welcome so many Deputies from around the country to the plenary, which was both good humoured and unified. I’d like to thank the Sussex Jewish Representative Council for all of its incredible work in hosting this weekend”.