BySimon Rocker, Simon Rocker
More than 70 former leaders of Jewish youth groups, students and Limmud have signed a letter backing Yachad's application to join the Board of Deputies.
The Board has twice postponed a decision on the bid from the liberal Zionist organisation which campaigns for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but is expected to vote on it next month.
Signatories warned that "a vote against Yachad's inclusion in the organisation will undermine the Board of Deputies' credibility and cause untold damage to the community, leaving many people feeling unrepresented".
A former Union of Jewish Students fieldworker is being lined up as the next chair of Yachad. Gideon Smith, 44, a London fund manager, is a member of Gamechangers, a leadership training programme run by the JLC.
"I am joining Yachad's board with a view to possibly becoming chair," said Mr Smith, brother-in-law of Yachad's current chairman, Dr Daniel Reisel.
"I've been looking to volunteer again within the community and that's one of the reasons I joined Gamechangers."