JVL co-chair Jenny Manson to speak at anti-racism event on Yom Kippur
Left-winger pulls a fast one by taking part in West London Stand Up To Racism event on Kol Nidre, advertised as opposing 'racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism'
The co-chair of Jewish Voice for Labour is to speak at an anti-racism event on the holiest night in the Jewish calendar.
Jenny Manson is to address ‘West London Stand Up To Racism’ on the evening of Tuesday 8 October, which is Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur.
Taking place at St Mary’s Church Hall in South Ealing at 7.30pm, the JVL co-chair will speak at the event, billed as opposing ‘racists in government’ and ‘increasing Islamophobia’.
A poster advertising it also says “no to racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism”, as well as “down with racists Donald Trump and Boris Johnson.”
She will speak alongside Weyman Bennet of Stand Up to Racism, Nick Onley of environmental group Extinction Rebellion, Gary McFarlane of Black Lives Matter and Eve Turner, chair of the Ealing Trades Council.
Mike Katz, chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, the community’s only official affiliate to the opposition, told Jewish News: “Whilst the overwhelming majority of Jews in Britain will be turning up to synagogue for the one evening when even the most unobservant will be with the community for the most solemn moment of the year, we wish Jenny a good fast for her speaking engagement.”
Jewish Voice for Labour responded to Jewish News, saying: “Our priority is fighting racism, so we find it extraordinary that JVL is being criticised for sending a speaker to an event organised by an anti-racist organisation working to bring together vulnerable groups confronting the right-wing resurgence that threatens us all.”
Jewish Voice for Labour is a pro-Jeremy Corbyn group of left-wing activist, who caused controversy when they protested the ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration against Jew-hate in the Labour Party.
Manson has previously caused anger after she was forced to apologise, for comparing a new definition of antisemitism to a discriminatory law banning public authorities from promoting “the acceptability of homosexuality”.
In July last year, she said sorry for the “clumsy” comments at a Constituency Labour Party event, angering members of the LGBT community who were present.
Under Manson’s tenure of JVL, it has been among a small number of Jewish groups to criticise the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
