Karen Newman becomes second candidate for Board of Deputies vice-presidency

Newman, who is a trustee of the new Movement for Progressive Judaism and chair of Liberal Judaism until its union with Reform, said she was standing partly because “I think it’s really important that a Progressive Judaism voice be among those at the presidential/VP top table”.

She added: “These are unprecedented times for British Jews; the Board needs to work for a Britain that is safe for all Jews. I am committed to building on the work of the security resilience and cohesion division in areas including fighting antisemitism, working with the BBC, strengthening interfaith initiatives, and maximizing the contribution that deputies within and beyond the division already bring to this work.”

She sits on the Board’s constitution committee and has sat on its SRC and finance and organisation committees.

A public policy adviser, she has advised the world’s second largest NGO, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, as well as the UK and Danish governments and the World Health Organisation on issues.

Having grown up in Mill Hill United Synagogue, she now chairs the services committee of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, St Johns’ Wood and has served as a committee member of the Jewish LGBT+ Group.

“While I will bring my unique experiences and background, it will always be in the context of recognising that the Board needs to represent the interests of all Jews in all that it does,” she said.