Jewish Greens

Jewish Greens is an official special interest group and "liberation group" network within the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW). It provides a dedicated space for Jewish members to meet, educate themselves and others, organise, and offer mutual support. The group also advises local parties and national Green Party bodies on Jewish belief and practice, raises awareness of distinct Jewish issues, and serves as the primary point of contact for external Jewish communal organisations.

The Jewish Greens describe themselves as united against all forms of racism, including antisemitism, and advocate for a welcoming, human-rights-based approach to both policy and practice within the wider political party.

Purpose and Core Functions

According to the group's official constitution, the Jewish Greens operates to fulfill specific educational, advisory, and protective functions:

• Educational Authority: It acts as the primary resource to educate wider Green Party bodies about Jews, Jewish culture, and Judaism.
• Calendar and Scheduling Advocacy: The group works directly with the GPEW Conferences Committee and Party Council to review scheduling, ensuring that leadership hustings, local elections, and national party conferences do not clash with Jewish High Holidays.
• Policy and Healthcare Advising: It provides culturally competent advice to leadership on religious practices like shechita (ritual slaughter) and the laws of kashrut (dietary regulations). Additionally, it raises awareness of specific Jewish health issues, including genetic conditions such as Tay–Sachs disease.
• Disciplinary and Protection Support: The group strives to protect its members by navigating the Green Party's internal disciplinary and dispute-resolution systems when antisemitic incidents or systemic discrimination occur internally.
• A Plurality of Voices: Crucially, the group's charter states that it does not enforce a single political mandate on sensitive topics like Zionism or Middle Eastern affairs. Instead, it aims to foster an environment where a diverse range of progressive Jewish opinions can coexist safely, promoting a human-rights-based alliance with other faith and identity groups.

Antisemitism training

The groups says it has given training to: Green Party Executive Committee | Young Greens | Bristol Green Party | Brighton Green Party | Hackney Green Party | Kettering Green Party | York Green Party.

People

Officers and Known Members

Name	Role	Notes
Vivien Lichtenstein	Chair; Membership officer 2022, 2023	Active; long-standing peace and human rights activist. Re-elected to the singular Chair role following the October 2025 AGM rule update limiting officers to one executive post.
Sam Alston	Secretary; Former Co-secretary 2023; Secretary 2020	Previously Events Officer; Project officer in Milton Keynes. Remained sole Secretary following the October 2025 AGM executive restructuring.
Jo Bird	Treasurer; Former Co-secretary 2023	Councillor on Wirral; Jewish eco-socialist background. Consolidated to sole Treasurer following the October 2025 AGM structural update.
Joshua Alston	Policy Officer; Former Chair 2022; Co-chair 2023	Academic at University of Leeds specialising in Jews in apartheid South Africa. Re-elected as Policy Officer following the 2025 AGM.
Andrée Frieze	Non-portfolio Officer	Green Party Councillor and Opposition Leader in Richmond. Re-elected at the October 2025 AGM under the new four-person non-portfolio cap.
Nick Levine	Non-portfolio Officer	Co-coordinator of Drugs Policy Working Group. Re-elected at the October 2025 AGM under the new four-person non-portfolio cap.
David Zell	Former Co-chair 2023; Non-portfolio 2022	Stepped down from active executive committee roles prior to the late 2025 AGM.
Shlomo Solomons	Events Officer	Joined committee following elections at the late October 2025 AGM.
Ruthi Brandt	Non-portfolio Officer	Joined committee following elections at the late October 2025 AGM under the new four-person non-portfolio cap.
Zack Polanski	Treasurer 2019 – 1 October 2024	Outgoing treasurer by 22 May 2024. Later elected Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales.
David Farbey	Former Officer; Non-portfolio officer 2023	Outgoing officer noted as stepping down in May 2025 structural reports.
Elly Stanton	Former Officer	Outgoing officer noted as stepping down in May 2025 structural reports.
Elise Danielle Benjamin	Founding Member; Communications officer 2022; External communications officer 2023	Founding member of Jewish Greens; spoke at Green Party debates on antisemitism definitions (2025).
Craig Simmons	Active Member	Oxford Greens activist; frequent contributor to Green Party debates on Israel-Palestine issues and antisemitism motions (2025–2026).
Jake Sharpstone	Jewish Greens activist	Brighton & Hove Green Party council candidate (Westdene & Hove Park, 2023; unelected) (listed on 2025 motions/amendments)
Mark Strong	Activist in the Jewish Greens	Brighton & Hove Green Party member (@MarkStrongQP), transport planning consultant. Stood as a 2023 council candidate in Queen's Park and co-optee on the 7 October memorial group.
David Urban	External communications officer 2023	Historical 2023 officer role; not active on the current 2025–2026 executive committee roster.

Key Structural & Constitutional Changes

The Single-Role Rule: At the 26 October 2025 AGM, a constitutional amendment was passed stating "Individuals may only hold one officer role." This clarifies why historical overlapping roles (like Jo Bird or Sam Alston serving as Co-Secretaries alongside primary roles) are no longer permitted. Non-Portfolio Cap: The same AGM amended the constitution to add: "The number of non-portfolio officers shall not exceed four."

External links

• Official website
• Events page
• Statement on motion A105 (“Zionism is Racism”)
• https://jewishgreens.greenparty.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2025/07/Antisemitism-a-guidance-070821.pdf?x99474

Jewish Greens continue to operate as an active network within the Green Party, focusing on Jewish inclusion, anti-racism, and human-rights-based approaches to foreign policy.