A cross-party group of MPs and peers including Post-Holocaust Envoy Lord Pickles and Shadow International Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner MP this week toured Jewish community institutions in north London to learn about Jewish life in Britain.
Organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews, the group – which also included Shadow Farming Minister Mary Glindon MP, Shadow Mental Health Minister Paula Sherriff MP, SNP Spokesperson for Mental Health Lisa Cameron MP, and Independent Liberal Democrat Stephen Lloyd MP, and Parliamentary staff – visited the Jewish Museum to learn about the history of the Jewish community, and were given a guided tour by its Chief Executive Abigail Morris. The Parliamentarians then went to Hampstead Synagogue, which was for some the first synagogue they had been into. Finally they were welcomed to the JW3 community centre by its Chief Executive Raymond Simonson and ate lunch at Zest kosher restaurant.
SNP MP Dr Lisa Cameron said: “It was fascinating to learn more about the Jewish community, its history and customs. It is so important that we take time to educate ourselves about the community and its immense contribution to our society.”
The visit was organised to showcase the vibrancy and variety of Jewish life to Parliamentarians.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews provides the secretariat to the APPG on British Jews.
Photo: (Left to right) Stephen Lloyd MP, Lisa Cameron MP, James Floyd (Louise Ellman’s Parliamentary Assistant), Hampstead Synagogue Vice Chair Gabriel Herman, Paula Sherriff MP, Board of Deputies Vice President Amanda Bowman