Female leader for Britain's Jews

Jerusalem: new president has strong links with Israel's holy city

The organisation which represents the Jewish community in Britain has elected a woman as its president for the first time in its 240-year history.

Approximately 230 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews elected grandmother Jo Wagerman unopposed at a meeting in central London on Sunday.

It's the end of the era when all women could do in Jewish societies was to make the tea.

Jo Wagerman
President of Board of Deputies

Mrs Wagerman, who used to be the head teacher of Europe's largest Jewish school, the Jews' Free School in Camden, north London, said she was "thrilled, delighted and honoured."

"I think Jewish women now, particularly younger women, will feel it is possible to have a good and fulfilling career and a good family life and give time to the Jewish community; that the top jobs in Jewish society are open to you," she said.

"It's the end of the era when all women could do in Jewish societies was to make the tea."

Strong links to Israel

The Jewish community in Britain numbers approximately 280,000.

Mrs Wagerman replaces Eldred Tabachnik QC in the three-year post, which will include overseeing the 240th anniversary of the board later this year.

A member of the Inner Cities Religious Council, Mrs Wagerman, has played a key role in developing relations with other faiths and minority communities of the UK.

Mrs Wagerman, who is described by those who know her as an orthodox Jew with strong links to Israel, has also worked closely with heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis to set up the Lennox Lewis College in Haringey, north London.

Her appointment comes as holocaust survivors from around the world gathered in London for a week-long conference.