Tributes to judge

Judge Israel Finestein, one of the outstanding figures of the Anglo-Jewish community in the second half of the 20th century, died on Monday. He was 88.

Judge Finestein, who retired from the bench as a deputy high court judge and a former crown court judge, had been president of the Board of Deputies from 1991 to 1994 and served on a diverse range of communal bodies. He had also been active outside the community, chairing the Mental Health Review Tribunal. He had also been a vice-president of the World Jewish Congress.

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Former Board of Deputies president dies

One of Anglo-Jewry's best known communal figures, Judge Israel Finestein, died today. He was 88.

Hull-born Judge Finestein, who retired from the bench as a deputy high court judge and a former crown court judge, was president of the Board of Deputies from 1991-1994 and served on a diverse range of communal bodies, including the Jewish Historical Society.

He had also been a vice president of the World Jewish Congress, and had been active outside the community, chairing the Mental Health Review Tribunal.

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Board: Muslim Council of Britain must be boycotted until reform

The government should lay down conditions for dealing with organisations such as the Muslim Council of Britain, a parliamentary inquiry has been told by the Board of Deputies.

In a joint submission with the Community Security Trust to the Commons’ Communities and Local Government Committee, the Board wrote: “Any future engagement with umbrella groups such as the Muslim Council of Britain must be contingent on them representing a greater range of views than those of the Islamists, and firmly rejecting violence in all circumstances, including in overseas conflicts.”

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Deputies in row over how to treat hate

Vivian Wineman, the president of the Board of Deputies, this week rounded on critics who accuse him of underplaying the threat of anti-Zionism and antisemitism.

Six deputies posted an online statement to dissociate themselves from an opinion piece written by Mr Wineman for the Jerusalem Post last week.

But writing in today’s JC, the Board president, who was elected two months ago, hit back, rejecting claims that the leadership had “its head in the sand”.

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Hate Shiekh’s British tour sparks outrage

The Board of Deputies has sent an angry protest to the Home Office about the UK visit of a leading Saudi Arabian cleric who has made numerous antisemitic speeches.

Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais has been on a lecture tour to mosques and shared a platform with Tony Baldry, Tory MP for Banbury, in the town last week.

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Board stays out of export licence row

The Board of Deputies has resolved to stay out of any row between the Foreign Office and Israel over the decision to cancel five export licences.

It is adopting a “wait and see” strategy and will get involved only if receiving an indication from Israel that it should take up the case. The Foreign Office’s decision to ban the export of parts for Israel’s naval vessels was believed to have been prompted by a concerted campaign by pro-Palestinian groups.

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