It is traditional for newspapers to declare their support for one party as polling day approaches. But for the JC, with a varied and thoughtful readership with widely differing views about the subjects that are important to the Jewish community, such an endorsement would be impertinent.
Our readers are more than capable of making up their own minds! On most of the issues specifically concerning Jews, such as shechita, faith schools and school security the two main parties are as one; there are arguments over the future of Hebrew as a school subject and a few other such issues but, overall, we are fortunate that we do not have to worry about a mainstream party advocating policies which threaten the freedom to practise our religion. And we are equally fortunate that, unlike many Jewish communities on the continent, there is no threat to our way of life from extremist parties.
But this is an election in which, for the first time in recent memory, there is a notable difference between the two parties' approach to Israel - specifically to its security. Both Ed Miliband and David Cameron say, sincerely, that they wish to see a secure Israel. As our interviews this week confirm, however, that means very different things to each of them. Our poll last month, in which only 10 per cent of British Jews said that Ed Miliband had the best attitude to Israel and the Middle East, made the judgment of the community abundantly clear. But whatever our individual view of these various issues may be, we should never forget one basic fact: how fortunate we are that we have the freedom to exercise our choice in the ballot box.
No such choice existed for many of our families as little as two generations ago. The only appropriate response to that is to vote.
