He stressed the importance of maintaining a strong presence. “The UK government recognises the Board of Deputies as the leading communal body when it comes to ensuring that our community’s voice is heard at the highest levels.
“The United Synagogue Trustees feel that it is crucial that we maintain our seat at the table and continue to advocate for our interests. Even if we disagree at times with what certain people at the Board of Deputies say or do, vacating that important space leaves both the Board of Deputies and the United Synagogue worse off.”
He revealed that the US was “looking to increase our Deputies in the coming months” and had been working with the Board “to make this financially possible for our charity”.
Taylor invited US deputies to meet after the Chagim “to discuss the challenges and opportunities we face”, and said the US would establish a working group of deputies.
Taylor’s intervention is his second bid to strengthen the US voice on the Board.
Ahead of an emergency Board meeting in July on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Taylor sent US deputies a briefing with talking points and urged them to contribute.
But some US deputies have expressed frustration that, despite the US representing the largest number of British Jews, they believe it is not as well represented on the Board as smaller organisations.
The recent merger of Liberal and Reform Judaism has resulted in the Progressive voice on the Board being perceived as stronger.
Most strictly Orthodox communities are not represented on the Board.
While all United Synagogue congregations are technically members, individual shuls can opt out of paying for a deputy, and individual members may still choose whether to contribute the voluntary levy.
Despite Taylor’s efforts, one US synagogue has already left – a decision made before his latest email.
The chair of one US synagogue said he believed the Board’s focus should be domestic, rather than international. ‘Our role should be to concern ourselves with growing antisemitism and shechita’
Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue in Essex said its council had “concluded that the Board of Deputies does not represent its views and does not provide value for money”.
Cockfosters and North Southgate Synagogue is also considering withdrawal, citing concerns about inadequate US representation.
Speaking to the JC, Cockfosters and North Southgate chair Daniel Anderson is frustrated by what he sees as a “disproportionate representation” of small bodies and groups on the Board. His community pays thousands of pounds in members’ contributions a year, he said – a number which he thinks is far higher than the figure smaller organisations with similar representation on the Board pay.
Anderson noted that while his shul – which has some 880 members – could request another deputy, it would cost an additional £495. “We’re not seeing proportionate representation,” he added.
The shul chair pointed to the controversy over 36 Progressive deputies who signed a letter in the Financial Times, criticising Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying it brought concerns about representation “to a fore”.
In July, the JC reported that US shuls threatened to leave the Board if the 36 signatories were not “severely” dealt with.
Anderson said he believed the Board’s focus should be domestic, rather than international. “Our role should be to concern ourselves with growing antisemitism, shechita – these are big issues we need to be confronting.
“I question the judgement of [Board leadership] for focusing on Israel and Gaza, when it is not their remit and it creates divisions,” he went on.
Meanwhile, a former deputy from a separate Essex US shul said she had withdrawn from being a deputy over concerns the body no longer represented her, leaving her community with one rather than two representatives.
“Originally, I thought if you can’t beat it join it, but it’s a lost cause, it’s gone too left wing,” the former deputy, who did not want to be named, claimed.
A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies said: “We are very pleased to report that the numbers of Deputies from the United Synagogue and indeed in all sections of the community has been growing in recent months.
“The Board of Deputies is the community’s foremost representative body. As an unparalleled democratic forum, the path to influence is through involvement, not isolation. We have offered to speak to the relevant communities to address some of the disinformation being spread, and we look forward to receiving dates from the Honorary Officers so we can engage with members’ questions directly. Now, more than ever, is not a time for division. It is a time for unity.”
Saul Taylor, the new president of the United Synagogue (Photo: United Synagogue)[Missing Credit]