Annual Report 2018

Dear friend, key 2018 It gives me great pleasure to share with you our Annual Report, which highlights just some of our achievements in 2018, and also to introduce myself to you as the new chair of the Yachad Board of Trustees. I am a member of Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue, ACHIEVEMENTS a previous chair of the UJIA Business Division and have served on the Yachad board for the past two years. I am honoured to be Working with the next generation the Left in Israel and the fight over narrative on social taking up the role of Chair within an organisation that I believe is media. The Israeli ambassador Mark Regev also spoke Youth movements so important to our community. to the students who engaged in robust Q&A with him. Working with 5 youth movements – Habonim Dror, In just eight years since its inception, Yachad has created a 20 events on university campuses reaching 750 unique space in which members of our community can express FZY, LJY-Netzer, RSY-Netzer and NOAM – to provide students. This included two speaker tours with their pride in, and support for Israel, whilst asking tough and content on the ground for 13 Israel tour groups. We Yachad staff and Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish, the ‘Gaza Doctor’, and Shabtay complex questions and voicing their support for a different vision worked with over 520 young people over the summer board members in Bendet, director of Settlement Watch for Peace Now. for its future. That Yachad has achieved this is due entirely and 2018 delivering this work, as well as providing bespoke completely to your support, and I would like to offer my heartfelt training for over 35 Israel tour leaders. Yachad activists wrote, proposed and passed a thanks to you. You can be rightly proud of what you have helped Staff motion at the 2018 Yachad do, but I would urge you to also join with us in embracing Delivering monthly educational sessions, in conference ‘affirming UJS’s commitment to Israel our ambition to achieve more in the years to come. Hannah Weisfeld (Director) partnership with the New Israel Fund, for movement as a democratic and Jewish state by supporting Maya Ilany workers responsible for running Zionist youth Throughout 2018 Yachad undertook a strategic review, recognising democratic civil society organisations in Israel.’ movements. the political climate in which we are now operating is somewhat Esther Craven As a result, UJS have agreed to work with groups such different from the one into which Yachad was established in 2011. Lisa Bain Delivering a seminar to 20 participants on gap year as Yesh Din, B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence when It culminated in the adoption of a new long-term strategy at the programmes in Israel. in the UK and to organise programming with such beginning of 2019. We’ve shared some of the key messages of our groups when taking trips to Israel. new strategy in this annual report, and we hope you agree that it Board Students reflects the political challenges of our time. Schools Gideon Smith (Chair) 22 students from universities across the UK, We know that the news can sometimes present a bleak and Simon Sadie participated in a 5-day educational trip to Israel Delivering school hopeless picture, and that’s why it is important to celebrate the and the West Bank, enhancing their understanding of assemblies for JAMS (Jewish 520 Larry Shulman 16-year olds taking successes we have had in 2018, and also look to the future. Karina Litvack Israel and the conflict and learning about how to be Activities in Mainstream part in Yachad Israel Yachad’s plan is focused on building a positive vision for the future, better activists on campus, in youth movements and Schools), coordinated by the Tour Programming Tommer Spence supporting the next generation of British Jewry in making their in Jewish spaces. UJIA. voice heard and proactively building networks and relationships Ella Grodzinski that can bring about change over the long-term. Amos Schonfield Over 40 students participated in our annual student Delivering educational sessions on Yom Ha’atzmaut conference, attending a full day of sessions and and Rosh Chodesh at JCoSS, reaching upwards of We thank you for your support in 2018 and look forward to your panels covering content including Gaza, the state of 280 pupils. continued involvement in 2019 as we contribute to the future security and prosperity of a land that is so important to all of us.

Simon Sadie 750 students attending Yachad Chair, Yachad events on campuses

1 YACHAD ANNUAL REPORT 2018 YACHAD ANNUAL REPORT 2018 2 Working with political decision Press, PR and Social Media and Gaza and over 330 people wrote to the Israeli Educational events makers Ambassador, Mark Regev and Middle East Minister In 2018 we published 12 opinion pieces and were In 2018 we brought to the UK, Michael Sfard, Israel’s Alistair Burt, to express concern over the potential In 2018 we met one-to-one with over 20 MPs and mentioned in the press on more than 30 occasions leading human rights lawyer (in partnership with New demolition of the Palestinian village of Khan al Ahmar. peers from across the political spectrum including including on CNN, BBC, Sky News, the Guardian, the Israel Fund), Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish ‘the Gaza doctor’, Close to 500 people shared campaigns on social Labour, Conservative, SNP and Liberal-Democrat Jewish Chronicle and and Shabtay Bendet, head of Settlement Watch for media. members. Peace Now, to speak and meet with our supporters. We increased our Facebook following by 20% and In addition to events with students, these speakers We held five events in Parliament with guest our posts were seen by tens of thousands of people. met with over 700 of our supporters at key speakers from Israel including prominent human Our twitter following increased by 60% with our over events that took place at JW3, BAFTA and the Jewish rights lawyer Michael Sfard and leading Israeli expert tweets being seen by Museum. Michael Sfard also met with leading Jewish on settlement expansion Shabtay Bendet, from the hundreds of thousands of lawyers at an event at Matrix Chambers. people each month. In July 1600 Settlement Watch department of Peace Now. alone, we reached over people taking We held a day long event at JW3 in partnership with Middle East Minister Alistair Burt gave a keynote 60% 461,000 users. increase in twitter part in Yachad the New Israel Fund to mark Israel 70, attracting address at our fundraising gala, endorsing Yachad following campaigns an audience of over 100 people. With 7 guest for being a “moderate voice in a world which is A number of influential speakers that included activists and academics from exceptionally binary”. figures started following the UK and Israel, the event explored the challenges us on Twitter including journalists Dan Hodges, Our tweets and communications were regularly and opportunities likely to be facing Israel over the Robert Petson, Mishal Husain & Paul Waugh. shared on social media by MPs including Stephen Communal engagement at the next 30 years. Twigg, Wes Streeting, Jess Phillips & Alex Sobel, and Board of Deputies Hundreds of people attended our screening of others. Campaigning and Advocacy In 2018 Yachad elected both a deputy and an under The Oslo Diaries at the Jewish Film Festival, our Yachad has been publicly engaged in the debate on 35s Observer to represent Yachad at the Board of event about Diaspora Jews and Israel at Jewish Book Our students spearheaded a campaign against antisemitism in the Labour party, including jointly Deputies. The Chair of the Yachad board was also Week and our 7 sessions at Festival. demolitions of Palestinian homes in Area C of the authoring an article in the Guardian with Alex elected to represent his synagogue at the Board West Bank. The Don’t Settle For This campaign 10 people took part in a five day study tour to Israel Sobel MP, calling on the Labour Party to adopt the of Deputies. Both the Yachad chair and Yachad brought together 27 students from 16 schools and and the West Bank. full IHRA definition of antisemitism. representative were elected onto the International universities, who co-signed a letter to communal Division of the Board of Deputies, enabling us to leaders, politicians and diplomats on the danger ensure that our views our considered on relevant that demolitions of Palestinian homes in Area Over issues. C of the West Bank pose to peace and security. This was inspired by a visit to Umm al-Kheir, an 20 Two Yachad meetings with MPs unrecognised Palestinian village under threat of demolition, during the Yachad Student Trip in 2017. representatives 1500 and Peers, people attending Yachad events The campaigners met with Sharon Bar-Li, Israeli elected onto the throughout the year 5 events in Deputy Ambassador; Stephen Twigg MP, Chair of International Division parliament the International Development Select Committee; at the Board of and Alastair Burt MP, Minister for the Middle East, Deputies who said that campaigns against demolitions ‘have been instrumental in halting some activity up to now” and urged the students to ‘continue to speak out’.

Over 750 individuals wrote to the Board of Deputies to raise concerns about the lack of balance in their public statements on the crisis between Israel

3 YACHAD ANNUAL REPORT 2018 YACHAD ANNUAL REPORT 2018 4 2018 Draft income and expenditure The table below outlines the total consolidated income and expenditure for 2018, subject to adjustment on finalisation of Accounts of Yachad (the charity) and Yachad Ltd (the company). Charitable activities only are carried out by Yachad the charity, and non-charitable activities by Yachad Ltd. The expenditure charged in the accounts of each reflects the costs of its respective activities. On the opposite page there is a detailed breakdown of income accounted for in this table. Item Detail Expenditure Income Wages and staff Accountancy fees costs Employers National Insurance Pensions Salaries Staff expenses Staff training £161,150 Student Educational events with youth movements and youth Gap year Israel trips movements Israel tour programmes Student conference Student trip Visits to campus £20,472 £5,603 Fundraising Consultancy fees Fundraising Appeals – costs and income Total Income Fundraising film expenses Fundraising gala at BAFTA – costs, ticket sale income Carried over funds – 2017 £30,578 General donations Grants and donations £225,869 Gift Aid Gift aid Payments £13,323 Grants Other income Income from ticket sales, events etc £38,600 Standing orders Other income £293 Ticket sales and costs for general fundraising events £38,886 £259,955 Events, trips and General Events education Israel 70 event – costs and ticket sales Fundraising income breakdown November 2018 Study Tour – costs and income Donation Size Total value of donations Number of donations Number of donors Visiting speaker tours: Michael Sfard and Shabtay Bendet – costs and ticket sales £27,072 £12,526 £5,000-£20,000 £131,000 14 14 Office costs Advertising £500-£4,999 £55,563 49 49 Bank charges £100-£499 £14,641 76 68 Computers and software Database £1-£99 £3,206 86 80 Graphic Design Recurring Donations £21,459 722 75 Insurance Total £225,869 947 286 Office equipment Phone Bills Postage Money held in accounts December 31st 2018 Printing Stationary Company Accounts Sundry expenses Charity Accounts Web hosting £27,241 Paypal Rent Desks and meeting room hire £17,060 Reserves Funds brought Funds brought forward from 2017 Petty Cash forward £30,578 TOTAL £291,881 £308,662 Total £15,620

5 YACHAD ANNUAL REPORT 2018 YACHAD ANNUAL REPORT 2018 6 OUR NEW STRATEGY key headlines

When Yachad was established in 2011 the underlying do nearly 8 years ago has been achieved. We have mission was based on the idea that diaspora Jews created the space within our community for a wider are stakeholders in Israel and therefore have a role debate. to play in ending the conflict. As supporters of Israel However, in 2019, the global and regional geo- who care deeply about the future of the country, political context is quite different to that of 2011. ignoring Israel’s long-term safety and security was The situation on the ground in Israel-Palestine has not an option. In 2011, it was believed that, with the become even more complex and UK issues such as help of international actors such as the USA and the Brexit and other global issues such as Syria and the EU, alongside diaspora Jewish partners, there was a ascendancy of Donald Trump are at the forefront, chance that resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict leaving people with a sense of greater despondency was possible. Yachad’s key task, was to create a about the state of the world in general. In addition, space in the British Jewish community for education, the challenge that the current UK Labour leadership debate and advocacy around the conflict, and through presents to the Jewish community and its relationship this, mobilise significant numbers in support for a with Israel is significant. This is further hindered by resolution to the conflict. the lack of leadership and direction from the political For the past 8 years, Yachad has given opposition in Israel, making it harder to mobilise the confidence to ask challenging questions about diaspora Jews around a coherent Israeli born vision for the Israel-Palestine conflict. Conversations that were change. once off limits, about Israel and its relationship to the Palestinian people, are now at the forefront of the debate. In some respects, what we set out to

We have created the space within our community for a wider debate

7 YACHAD ANNUAL REPORT 2018 YACHAD ANNUAL REPORT 2018 8 Updating our theory of change: Our core strategy looking to the long term There are three core areas where we have the In order to create systemic change, Yachad, and capacity to influence and shape strategic direction organisations that share its ethos, need to look to the and change: medium-to-long term. Until now our focus has been 1) The Jewish community: We want to make short-term and focused on reacting to the agenda set sure our communal bodies and institutions by our political opponents. It is clear that: In just eight years since reflect the values of our supporters to the 1) The conflict is not going to be solved any time wider world. We will engage more deeply in soon. institutional Jewish life, and ask our supporters its inception, Yachad has to get involved to help make sure this happens. 2) Our efforts need to be more strategic and targeted. 2) British decision-makers: It is important created a unique space that our current and future political leaders 3) We need to build lasting relationships across the hear the voice of the mainstream British political spectrum, both in the UK and Israel. in which members of our Jewish community in giving our support to 4) We need to recruit and educate a new Israel, whilst raising critical questions, and generation of stakeholders within the Jewish our passionate desire for dialogue that can community can express community. generate a resolution to the conflict and an end to occupation. Yachad is now uniquely placed their pride in, and support to help build connections with like-minded Our key messages politicians in Britain, Europe and the USA, and for, Israel, whilst asking • Yachad is a proud supporter of the State of Israel with a new generation of future leaders in Israel, and cares passionately for its future security who may hold the reins of power in the future and prosperity. so that, when the political landscape shifts tough and complex decisively towards the possibility of peace, the Yachad believes that British Jews have a role to • networks are in place to support it. play in bringing an end to the conflict between questions and voicing their Israel and the Palestinian people, and as people 3) The next generation of our community: who support Israel it is our responsibility to play A new generation of pro-Israel British Jews support for a different our part. wants to talk about and understand the conflict, but often feels discouraged or inhibited by Ending the conflict is essential for Israel to • the response from others in our community. vision for its future. survive and thrive. The best option is currently a We will deepen and strengthen our work with two-state solution, but we are open to hearing them, on campus, in their youth movements, fresh thinking. This can only come through and by taking them to Israel, so they have the openness to, and dialogue between, all those Simon Sadie confidence to speak out in support of their engaged in the conflict. values and beliefs, and remain connected to our Chair, Yachad • A critical step to end the conflict is to end the community and ready to assume leadership roles occupation. Ending the occupation is not the in it in the future. end of the conflict.

93 YACHAD ANNUAL REPORT 2018 YACHAD PHOENIX YARD 65 KINGS CROSS ROAD LONDON WC1X 9LW [email protected] www.yachad.org.uk facebook.com/YachadUK @YachadUK

Yachad is a registered charity, registration number 1164566 Yachad Ltd is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, company number 07638945 Any non-charitable activities are conducted under the auspices of Yachad Ltd