Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg spent last weekend in Leeds meeting members of the Jewish community as well as local and national politicians and student leaders, as part of his campaign pledge to visit regional communities and prioritise their needs.
Phil spent Friday engaging and meeting with local politicians including Lord Mayor of Leeds Abigail Marshall-Kutang, Cllr Geoff Turnbull and Cllr Dan Cohen accompanied by President of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council Laurence Saffer and Deputy for the Leeds JRC Debbie Addlestone.
Phil, accompanied by Leeds Jewish Representative Council members met Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin and Leader of Leeds City Council Cllr James Lewis, and local MPs Fabian Hamilton and Alex Sobel. They discussed public safety, transport, housing, regeneration, finance and issues affecting the local Jewish community including tackling antisemitism and promoting cohesion.
Phil later met Leeds and Bradford faith leaders to discuss the challenges facing their communities.
He spent Friday evening with the United Hebrew Congregation and Shabbat morning at the Leeds Jewish Housing Association Shabbat where he joined the Masorti service and met many members of the community at the joint Kiddush afterwards. Phil shared the priorities set for the Board, including fighting antisemitism, standing up for peace and security in Israel and the Middle East, defending our religious freedoms, making our community more united, inclusive and outward-facing and celebrating our faith, heritage and culture as British Jews. He outlined ways the Board proposed to tackle these tasks and answered questions which were raised on different topics encapsulated in these priorities.
On Saturday evening, Phil visited students at Hillel House, including President of Leeds JSoc Emma Levy, and heard of the challenging situation on campus in the years since October 7th.
On Sunday, Phil met representatives from the Leeds Jewish community, including Deputies from Leeds and Yorkshire. In separate meetings he met CST and a police representative, the Presidents of the Leeds Synagogues and officers of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council. He later attended a Sinai Synagogue Civic Reception to commemorate 80 years of the synagogue and the Inauguration of Cantor Rachel Weston, at which he was joined by Board of Deputies Deputy and Community Engagement Manager Sara Radivan,
Following the visit, Phil said: “Leeds is one of this country’s most important communities and I am full of admiration for the community leaders who ensure it remains vibrant and active. I received wonderful Yorkshire hospitality throughout my visit and would like to thank all of my hosts. Communities such as these deserve our support and I will be making sure that Jews in all areas of the country feel heard and valued by the Board.”
Further visits will be taking place in Newcastle-Gateshead, Wales and Northern Ireland.