A Hollywood actress, a television personality, a rabbi and at least two jewellers were among the 1,164 people who were recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list, which was released this week.
TV presenter Esther Rantzen, who has described her Jewishness as a “central part of my identity”, was made a Dame.
She was recognised for founding confidential 24-hour support groups ChildLine, for abused children, and Silver Line, for lonely pensioners. She set up the latter afterstruggling to come to terms with the death of her husband, BBC executive Desmond Wilcox, who she married in the Liberal Jewish Synagogue after he converted to Judaism.
She said she was delighted at the honour. “I’m absolutely thrilled because what it does is recognise the importance of ChildLine and SilverLine in transforming the lives of isolated young and old people,” she said.
“There’s still a stigma of loneliness, abuse and neglect. The telephone is a safe way to talk about those feelings.”
Joan Collins, whose father is Jewish, was also made a Dame. She has championed awareness of sexual abuse, through her philanthropic and charitable work and by appearing in a film about rape victim Linor Abargil, the Israeli model who was Miss World in 1998.
The star said: “I am deeply honoured by this award. It is humbling to receive this level of recognition from my Queen and country, and I am thrilled and truly grateful.”
Former Cabinet minister Lord Young was made a companion of honour for public service.
A respected figure in the world of business, Lord Young was appointed Trade and Industry Secretary in Mrs Thatcher's government in 1987, a post he held for two years.
Figures who received honours for their communal work included Stuart Polak, director of Conservative Friends of Israel; Laura Marks, founder of Mitzvah Day and senior vice-president on the Board of Deputies and Rabbi Barry Marcus.
Ms Marks, who was awarded an OBE for services to interfaith relations, said: “I’m thrilled obviously. It’s exactly what I would want to get an honour for – it shows how important the agenda is. Interfaith is an issue that we really need to address. It’s going to be a key issue going forward at both the Board and Mitzvah Day. I suspect it’s rare to get one for Interfaith – shows how important the agenda is."
Rabbi Marcus, who has who has led more than 150 study missions to Auschwitz, was appointed MBE for services to Holocaust education. He said: “Today, it’s equally if not more important to let the wider community understand what can happen when hatred is unchecked; when Holocaust language is used flippantly or there’s abuse.
“There are very disturbing signs all around us, in the media, in the increase in nationalism, what’s going on in Europe and how what’s going on in Israel affects the Jewish community.
“The need to address the wider community is vital. The government has obviously acknowledged that the importance of dialogue is vital.”
Rabbi Marcus was knighted by the Polish government earlier this year.
Mr Polak, who was made a CBE for political service, said he was “thrilled” to receive the honour, after leading the CFI body of which 80 per cent of Conservative MPs are members.
He said: “There’s always more that can be done, it’s a long-term process. But I think that if you look around the cabinet table now, you couldn’t get Conservatives that are more supportive of Israel or the Jewish community – and it doesn’t happen from nowhere. I’ve taken them all to Israel once or twice. These are relationships that we’ve built up.”
Labour Friends of Israel chair, MP Anne McGuire, was made a Dame for parliamentary and political services.
Other recipients include Professor Martyn Poliakoff, who received a knighthood for services to chemical sciences; former cabinet minister Lord Young received a companion of honour for public service; Vivienne Bellos was made an MBE for services to music. She is the director of music at North Western Reform Synagogue and the founder of Alyth Choral.
Business leaders were also recognised for their work. Brent Hoberman, co-founder of lastminute.com, received a CBE for services to entrepreneurship, and jewellery designer Nicola Gerwirtz was made an MBE.
Jeweller Jason Holt, a member of New North London Synagogue, received a CBE for services to apprenticeships. He described it as “an extraordinary honour and something I never thought would come my way”.
Mr Holt is the chief executive of the Hatton Garden-based Holts family jewellery group, a government apprenticeship ambassador for small and medium sized businesses.
He is also the founder of Holts Academy for apprentices. Mr Holt said: “I have always felt as a business owner I needed to do something about the skills gap in our sector – to be recognised for that, in this way, is very humbling.”
Joseph Seelig, Co-Founder of London International Mime, received an OBE for services to theatre. Dasha Wendy SHENKMAN was made an OBE for services to philanthropy and the arts.
Valerie Jourdan, who is not Jewish, was made an MBE for her work with children on the West Bank. She is the founder of the charity Bethlehem Children with Disability.
