Leeds Jewish Representative Council

•  We are the umbrella organisation for the Leeds Jewish community
• We have the authority to speak on behalf of the whole community
• We mediate and lobby on behalf of the community to protect its interests
• We are democratically elected representatives
• We are independent and promote the well-being of the community
• We have no specific agenda (political, social, religious or educational)
• We foster links with the wider local community
• We negotiate in a quiet and diplomatic manner

WHY ARE WE HERE…?

• Jewish life is community dependent
• The feeling of community enhances loyalty and committment
• Larger community permits greater opportunities
• The community is greater than the sum of its parts
• Communities without a representative body often seek help to create one.

We Support…

• Jewish Day Schools
• Jewish activities in secular schools
• Welfare Services
• Security and defence
• Youth services
• Chaplaincy

We Provide…

• A point of reference for the outside communities
• An appropriate body to represent the Jewish point of view to the media
• Local and national political activity and pressure
• Links with national Jewish organisations
• Representation on influential committees

WHAT DO WE DO…?

PUBLIC IMAGE

• Media and PR management
• First line of response to outside requests for information or opinion
• Public face of the Jewish community internally and externally

INTERFAITH

• Relationships with other minority groups
• Race Equality Advisory Forum
• Leeds Faiths Forum
• Council of Christians and Jews
• Concord

POLITICS

Lobbying:

• Pre-election and ongoing – MPs, MEPs, City Councillors

Local Pressure Groups:

• Education
• Civil liberties
• Human Rights from the Jewish perspective

EDUCATION

BRODETSKY SCHOOL:

• Support for Governors
• Political lobbying for Nursery Education and entry to Allerton High School

ALLERTON HIGH SCHOOL:

• Lobbying Leeds City Council
• Liason with Headteacher
• Ensuring direct entry for Brodetsky pupils
• Ensuring high standards of Jewish education

GENIE’S LAMP (Communal Diary):

• Full information for the community on informal Jewish events
• Produced every month and distributed free of charge

LIMMUD

• Providing administrative support

YEAR BOOK

COMMUNITY

Welfare Services:

Represented on Leeds Jewish Welfare Board. Leeds Jewish Housing

• Association and Donisthorpe Hall

SPEAKERS PANEL:

• Visits non-Jewish groups throughout Yorkshire
• Defence function

We have close links with -

• Board of Deputies of British Jews
• Community Defence (CST)
• Strategic Planning for the future of the community (with UJIA)
• Chessed (lay hospital visiting)
• Trustees of the Leeds Jewish Community Charitable Trust
• Northern Forum – Representative Councils from Birmingham to Glasgow
• Community Development Project – Young Adult project, devised & set up by LJRC, ran successfully for 10 years.

RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS

THE SYNAGOGUES:

• Promoting understanding and cooperation between them
• Encouraging the development of the Jewish way of life

LEAD DEFENCE AGAINST ANTI-JEWISH ATTACKS:

• On Shechita
• On Brit Milah

BEREAVEMENT:

• Information for the bereaved
• Advice to hospitals on Jewish customs and needs
• Post mortems

KASHRUT:

• Leeds Kashrut Authority
• Kosher foods in hospitals and prisons

CHAPLAINCY:

• Students
• Hospitals

Updates about the Leeds Rep Council