(11 Sept 2026) President Phil Rosenberg and colleagues from the Board of Deputies of British Jews met yesterday with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, and her team in Lambeth Palace, to discuss Christian-Jewish relations in the UK and the deep religious, cultural and historical ties of the Jewish people with the land of Israel.

In a constructive and positive discussion, the group discussed the challenges of recent months, and how Jews, Christians and Muslims can work together to further the cause of peace in the region – including engagement with Israeli and Palestinian voices for peace.

The Board of Deputies conveyed the concerns of the Jewish community regarding the recent Synod Motion relating to the Kairos documents, including the erasure in the Kairos II document of Jewish identity and history, as well as concerns related to the Archbishop’s recent visit to the region. We welcomed the Church’s commitment to hear a wide range of perspectives from Israelis and Palestinians, both here in the UK and through future visits to the region.

The Board and the Archbishop agreed to continue dialogue and engagement on these issues to address how our communities can work to better understand and support one another in these uncertain times. Joining the Board of Deputies’ delegation were Vice President Karen Newman and Interfaith and Social Action Officer Daniel Epstein-O’Dowd.

Following the meeting, Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said: “At a time of heightened tension and division between communities, the importance of constructive dialogue between friends is all the more important. There are far too many – both at home and abroad – who would wish to harm the relationship between British Jews and the Church of England. In the face of such forces, we welcomed the opportunity for discussion with the Archbishop.

The Board and the Jewish community stand ready to work with the Church and others to deepen understanding of Jewish identity, as well as the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on our communities, and to spread hope by becoming active peacemakers together.”