Working together is key in making a difference and ensuring our community flourishes.
If you wish to contact LJRC please call 0113 218 5869 or email info@ljrc.org
![LJRC Logo](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/LJRC-Logo.png)
About LJRC
Our Role
The LJRC is a significant and inclusive organisation that serves as the umbrella for the Jewish community in Leeds. As the central representative body, the LJRC supports various 50-plus partner organisations (affiliates) that operate across a range of diverse sectors, including social welfare, social housing, primary and high school education, as well as faith and youth institutions.
Our Core Values Are:
Unity
![image1](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image1.jpeg)
Sustainable Development
![image11](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image11.jpeg)
Empowerment
![image8](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image8.jpeg)
Performance
![image5](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image5.jpeg)
Unity
Unity is essential for the growth and well-being of any community, as it allows for shared goals, effective problem-solving, and the celebration of diversity.
Members feel connected, supported, and empowered to work towards a brighter future together. The LJRC focuses on the following strategies:
Shared Goals and Effective Problem-Solving
The LJRC provides opportunities that brings people together under common goals, making it easier for the community to work collectively towards solutions for various challenges. When individuals come together and collaborate, they can leverage their diverse perspectives and skills to address issues effectively.
Community Contribution
Interactive Online Hubs
Kindness and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
Collaboration with Multiple Organisations and Stakeholders
Safe, Inclusive, and Accessible Events
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is obtained by optimising resources, conducting research for evidence-based improvements, fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, and ensuring financial support to meet the long-term needs of the community. By following these principles, the organisation can work towards creating a positive and lasting impact on the community it serves. The LJRC focuses on the following strategies:
Maximising Assets and Reducing Duplication
Delivering Research and Evidence-Based Improvements
Building and Implementing a Community Strategy
Collaborating with Funding Bodies
Empowerment
Empowerment is the process of enabling individuals or groups to gain control over their own lives and make informed decisions. By implementing these principles and practices, the LJRC can create a truly empowering environment that enables leaders, staff, volunteers, and community members to come together and make a meaningful difference in filling gaps in services or enhancing existing ones through volunteering, donations, or the creation of new grassroots groups. The LJRC also focuses on the following strategies:
Respectful and Safe Environments
Inclusivity
Support and Recognition
Capacity Building
Collaboration
Resource Access
Clear Purpose and Goals
Celebrating Success
Continuous Improvement
Performance
Performance is measured through a dynamic and resilient platform that effectively addresses the needs of the Jewish community whilst also contributing positively to broader societal challenges. The LJRC focuses on the following strategies:
Networking and Collaboration
Establish online platforms or forums
Advocacy and Support
Public Awareness Campaigns and Lobbying
Continuous Improvement and Flexibility
Collaboration with Local Authorities and Institutions
Skill Development and Knowledge Sharing
Sustainability and Resilience
Monitoring and Evaluation
Our Vision
Our vision can be achieved through:
The LJRC Team
Achieving these objectives requires careful planning, effective strategies, and continuous effort.
To do this well we:
• Have effective visionary leaders.
• Have a talented team.
• Have transparent communication channels.
• Have a culture that embraces change, adapts quickly and fosters innovation.
• Coordinate activities that promotes collaboration and partnership opportunities to address common challenges and achieve collective goals.
• Support local initiatives to engage in local projects that aim to strengthen the community.
• Contribute to community resilience by leading disaster preparedness and response efforts.
• Encourage employees to be active members of the community, volunteering and participate in community events.
• Support policies and initiatives that promote the overall well-being and growth of the community.
The LJRC Board
![Laurence Saffer](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Laurence-Saffer.png)
LJRC President
About Laurence
![Simon Myers](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Simon-Myers.png)
LJRC Chair
About Simon
In his spare time, he travels between his four children, three of whom live abroad, drinks wine, studies Talmud, and heads the Leeds Jewish Representative Council. Teaching is something for which he has real enthusiasm: he teaches advocacy for Middle Temple, of whose Education Committee he is vice-Chair, and he was the first diversity trainer on circuit. He has taught and written undergraduate courses on Judaism for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Before taking Silk, Simon supervised a total of 8 pupils. He began the website “Pupillage and How To Get It”, to help applicants and to improve diversity at the Bar.
![Lisa Baker](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Lisa-Baker.png)
LJRC Director (past President)
About Lisa
This enabled forging of relationships between Lisa and parent, grandparent and intervener clients during what is often their only interaction with the court system and stressful proceedings, which often considers the removal of children permanently from the family.
For CAFCASS her ability to grasp complex medical issues, her criminal bar training where forensic analysis was required and her ability to speak to young people made her a popular choice amongst Guardians for the most complex of cases including contentious Private Law Proceedings and the most serious of public law cases concerning serious injury, sexual abuse, death and Factitious Illness allegations as well as chronic neglect.
Lisa’s expertise as an advocate has enabled her to “lead” several colleagues whilst in private practice appearing against QC’s and in the Court of Appeal.
Lisa’s expertise isn’t just as an advocate, but her knowledge of Family legal aid is nationally known, and she is always willing to share her expertise offering training to local practitioners, the judiciary and social workers.
Lisa Baker is a native Mancunian and in her spare time has held a variety of positions within the community since her move to Leeds, including with the LJHA, Brodetsky and BHHS as well as the LJRC President.
Lisa aims to be accessible and inclusive for members and to successfully represent the community externally on local civic and national issues.
![Alan Dunwell](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Alan-Dunwell.png)
LJRC Director
About Alan
Having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease some years ago, Alan retired from RSM but continues to act in a trustee capacity for a number of local charities, particularly in the areas of education finance and risk management.
Alan was born and bred in Leeds and has held a variety of communal positions including his current ones as a Governor at a voluntary aided primary school, a Free School Director and a trustee of two education charities.
Alan’s remit as CE is to ensure the financial integrity and continuity of the LJRC and look at the strategic management of the organisation.
![Simon Phillips](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Simon-Phillips.png)
LJRC Director of Interfaith
About Simon
Previously a lecturer and researcher in academic institutions, Simon worked as a community engagement officer at West Yorkshire Police and is currently the community engagement officer as the Leeds Jewish Housing Association.
Simon has held leadership positions within the Jewish and wider communities, both locally and nationally, for almost 25 years.
In his spare time, Simon is the director of interfaith to establish links with other faith communities in Leeds and neighbouring areas, including minority communities, where there is an opportunity to work together to encourage community cohesion.
The LJRC Employees
![Susie Gordon](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Susie-Gordon.png)
LJRC Chief Operations Officer
About Susie
Susie works closely with European-wide community development initiatives, the Local Authority, local councillors and multifaith organisations to represent the community in wider community conversations, such as supporting the West Yorkshire Safety of Women and Girls Strategy or discussing more politically motivated issues such as during increased periods of increased antisemitism.
Susie is a qualified personal and business coach and workshop facilitator. In her spare time Susie supports up-and-coming professional leaders to enable the creation or the development of a strategic plan for both public, third sector and faith organisations to enable others to reach their goals well.
![ALAN BENSTOCK](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ALAN-BENSTOCK.png)
LJRC Operations Officer
About Alan
In addition to his work for the LJRC and other Leeds based organisation, Alan is part of the chaplaincy team at Manchester Airport, national co-ordinator of the British Isles and Ireland Airport Chaplains Network and a council member of the International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains. He is currently researching a PhD looking at religion in airports
![Screenshot 2023-07-18 at 11.06.57](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screenshot-2023-07-18-at-11.06.57.png)
Community Development Officer
![Screenshot 2023-07-18 at 11.08.18](https://www.leedsjewishcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screenshot-2023-07-18-at-11.08.18.png)
Community Engagement Officer
the ‘Leeds Jewish Community Charitable Trust’.
We want to say a huge thank you to the National Lottery Community Award
to enable the Leeds Jewish Representative Council (LJRC) to create this website.
If you can’t find what you are looking for on this website,
please contact the LJRC Office info@ljrc.org and they will be happy to help.
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