Dear members,

The intensive holiday season is almost over, but we are still in our festive anniversary year. I hope you will join our upcoming events, for which you will find information on our website:

• 9 October 2023 we to be hosted at the Parkes Institute at the University of Southampton - do join us!!!

• 17 October 2023 we will be meeting on zoom to discuss the history and memory of Jews in York

• 30 November 2023 at Kings College London, we will celebrate a major new book on Jewish history in th 18th century, a century when many European Jews received civil rights for the first time, a development that also traditions in Jewish communities

I am delighted to help advertise publications by long-standing members and on topics that may interest you. Dr John Cooper has completed a new book: The British Campaign for Soviet Jewry 1966-1991: Human Rights and Exit Permits. Many of us remember that long campaign. John tells me that the book is available for purchase online. You may wish to experience some of John's writing and scholarship in a piece he has recently published: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-the-british-and-the-exodus-of-soviet-jewry/

A longstanding member who served on our Council has also completed a study. This is Bryan Diamond, and his work is on Claude Montefiore, Jewish Scholar, Communal Leader, Philanthropist. Claude was an early President of JHSE (1899-1900), so many of you may be interested to learn more about him, especially during this, our 130th anniversary year.

I was moved to receive from the Royal Danish Embassy an invitation to the commemorative event for the historic, and heroic, saving of many Danish Jews in November 1943. Members of the Board of Trustees will attend the ceremony on 8th November 2023 and we will report back about it.

Hoping to see you at the upcoming events in person. As ever, please write to me with comments, requests, or suggestions for making the JHSE even better.

Best wishes, Miri Rubin, your President