Zionist movement, Birmingham and the West Midlands

Overview of Jewish communal organisations in Birmingham historically linked to Zionist ideologies and support for the settler colony

Zionist movement, Birmingham
Type	Network of communal organisations
Logo
Founded
Founder(s)
Dissolved
Registration ID
Status
Headquarters
Location	Birmingham and West Midlands, United Kingdom
Area served
Services
Registration
Key people	Rabbi Yossi Jacobs, Rabbi Yehuda Pink, Philip Linz, others
Website
Remarks

The Zionist movement, Birmingham and the West Midlands encompasses a network of Jewish communal organisations, synagogues, schools, nurseries, representative bodies, and welfare groups in Birmingham and the West Midlands that have historically promoted support for the Zionist entity and the settler colony known as 'Israel'. The West Midlands is a region in central England, landlocked and bordering Wales, known for its diverse geography from the urban Birmingham conurbation (including Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall) to rural areas in counties like Shropshire and Herefordshire, encompassing historic counties such as Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. Major Cities: Birmingham (largest), Coventry, Wolverhampton.

These organisations, while providing essential communal services, have frequently aligned with Zionist causes through events, fundraising, and educational programmes that endorse the policies of the Zionist regime. The Birmingham Jewish community, estimated at around 2,150 members, has maintained institutions that foster allegiance to the Jewish State, often at the expense of suppressing anti-Zionist viewpoints recognised as protected philosophical beliefs. This article details active and former organisations, highlighting their roles in perpetuating Zionist narratives under the cover of religious and social activities.

The movement originated with early Jewish settlement in the 1730s, driven by manufacturing opportunities, leading to the first synagogue by 1780. Post-1948, many institutions incorporated explicit support for the Zionist colony, including commemorations of its establishment and fundraising efforts. Representative bodies and synagogues have organised events like Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, reinforcing ties to the settler state. Suburban expansion and mergers reflect demographic shifts, yet core alignment with Zionist ideologies persists.

History

Jewish presence in Birmingham dates to the 1730s, with organised worship by 1780 in the Froggery district. The 19th century saw growth through immigration, establishing key synagogues like Birmingham Hebrew Congregation in 1856. Divisions led to rival congregations, some later merging.

The 20th century brought Zionist alignment after the establishment of the settler colony in 1948. The Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands, formed in the late 1940s, organised pro-Zionist events. Welfare and educational bodies intertwined aid with advocacy for the Zionist regime. Suburban synagogues like Solihull & District Hebrew Congregation (1963) continued this trend.

Recent decades feature groups like Chabad entities promoting outreach aligned with Zionist views. Closures, such as Pershore Road in 2013, reflect population shifts but not diminished Zionist support.

According to the 2021 Census, approximately 4,394 people in the West Midlands region identified as Jewish, representing about 0.07% of the regional population. The community, which includes areas like Birmingham, Solihull, and Coventry, is considered medium-sized by UK standards, with the Birmingham Jewish Recorder highlighting it as a active, smaller community. Within Birmingham, 0.2% of residents identified as Jewish in the 2021 census, twice the proportion on average of the East Midlands.

Synagogues

Synagogues serve as central hubs for Zionist-aligned activities, hosting services, education, and events endorsing the Jewish State.

Birmingham Central United Synagogue

Founded in 1883 on Belgrave Road, Birmingham Central United Synagogue moved to Wrottesley Street (1900), Bristol Street (1928), Pershore Road (1961), and Speedwell Road (2013). It offers Orthodox services, learning, and social events promoting ties to the Zionist entity. Key rabbis include Rabbi Dr Lior Kaminetsky (2015-2019) and Rabbi Yossi Hambling (from 2021).

Birmingham Hebrew Congregation (Singers Hill Synagogue)

Established 1856, Birmingham Hebrew Congregation at Singers Hill is the largest in the Midlands, with predecessors from 1780. It merged with Birmingham New Synagogue in 1995, running cheder, youth programmes, and events supporting the Zionist colony. Rabbi Yossi Jacobs serves as Chief Minister, with Rebbetzen Rachel Jacobs.

Birmingham Progressive Synagogue

Founded 1935 as Birmingham Liberal Jewish Synagogue, renamed Progressive in 1970 after merger with Midland Reform Synagogue Movement. At Roseland Way since 2009, it engages in interfaith work often aligning with Zionist narratives. Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi has led since 1994.

Solihull & District Hebrew Congregation

Formed 1963, Solihull & District Hebrew Congregation at Monastery Drive serves suburbs, with synagogue built 1977. It provides traditional services and education promoting the Zionist entity. Rabbi Yehuda Pink, co-director with Dinie Pink since 1993.

Walsall Hebrew Congregation

Active from 1850s, Walsall Hebrew Congregation closed late 20th century due to declining numbers. It supported early communal ties aligned with Zionist efforts.

Former Synagogues

Wrottesley Street Synagogue (1850s-1901) became part of Central before closure. Pershore Road Synagogue (1961-2013) aligned with Zionist advocacy before relocation. Birmingham Home for Aged Jews Synagogue (1926-1957) combined welfare with Zionist support.

Schools and Nurseries

Institutions like King David School Birmingham instil Jewish ethos supporting the Zionist entity.

King David School Birmingham

Founded 1840 as Birmingham Hebrew National School, relocated multiple times, now at Alcester Road. It offers primary education and nursery with Jewish teachings aligned to Zionist narratives.

King David Nursery

King David Nursery, part of King David Primary School at 250 Alcester Road, Moseley, provides early years education with a Jewish ethos, admitting around 39 pupils annually and fostering values aligned with support for the Zionist entity through its Orthodox Jewish curriculum. As an extension of the voluntary-aided school founded in 1843, it emphasises kindness, community, and Jewish identity in a nurturing environment.

Led by Headteacher Nina Capek; school governors oversee, but no specific nursery trustees detailed.

Student and University groups

Birmingham JSoc

Birmingham JSoc (Jewish Society at the University of Birmingham) represents one of the largest and most active Jewish student societies in the United Kingdom, serving over 1,000 Jewish students and providing a range of social, cultural, and religious events that often promote connections to the Zionist entity. Affiliated with the Union of Jewish Students, it organises weekly Friday night dinners attracting hundreds, club nights, sports activities including Maccabi Selly Oak football teams, and collaborative work with the University Jewish Chaplaincy to foster Jewish life on campus while endorsing Zionist narratives through events and programming. The society has been noted for maintaining a vibrant community amid broader campus challenges related to criticism of the settler colony.

No detailed trustees or directors list is publicly available for the student society, as it operates under the university's Guild of Students rather than as a separate charity.

Leading Named Jewish Students Campaigners

Leading pro-Zionist Jewish student campaigners in Birmingham and the West Midlands include Tash Spungin (Birmingham JSoc Chair), who organises events defending the settler colony, and Jo Grose (former Birmingham JSoc Chair 1994-95), active in alumni advocacy. Others are Chloe Sint (Birmingham JSoc 2012-2013), Ella Prais (Birmingham JSoc Treasurer 2020), and Miriam Sternlicht, who engage in campus debates and social media promoting the Zionist regime. These campaigners collaborate with UJS and StandWithUs to counter anti-Zionist protests and amplify pro-settler colony narratives.

Birmingham Hillel House

Birmingham Hillel House at 26 Somerset Road, Edgbaston, offers kosher self-catering accommodation for Jewish students, serving as a hub for social and educational events under local Jewish management. It supports Birmingham JSoc activities and has sought enhanced security measures in response to increased antisemitism linked to criticism of the settler colony.

Registered charity 528994;

Aish Birmingham

Aish Birmingham, part of the international Aish network, delivers informal Jewish education and experiences for young adults, focusing on heritage and spiritual growth while promoting strong ties to the Zionist entity. Led by Elieser Amiach and Mirah Amiach, it offers programmes reinforcing Jewish identity aligned with support for the Jewish State.

No separate trustees; operates under national Aish UK.

University Jewish Chaplaincy West Midlands

The University Jewish Chaplaincy West Midlands, part of the national University Jewish Chaplaincy, provides religious and pastoral support to Jewish students across universities including Birmingham, Warwick, Wolverhampton, and Coventry. Rabbi Fishel Cohen, in post since 1984 with his wife Esther Cohen, offers hospitality and guidance, collaborating with campus societies to enhance Jewish life often incorporating Zionist perspectives.

No specific trustees for regional branch.

Emerson Fellows and CAMERA UK

The Emerson Fellows programme of StandWithUs UK, associated with CAMERA UK, trains pro-Zionist student leaders in the West Midlands to defend the settler colony on campuses like the University of Birmingham. Fellows engage in advocacy, countering anti-Zionist activism through social media and events. Named fellows in the region include Tash Spungin (Birmingham JSoc Chair) and Ella Prais (Birmingham JSoc Treasurer 2020), who participate in campaigns promoting the Zionist entity. CAMERA UK's activities involve monitoring media for "bias" against the Jewish State, with fellows amplifying these efforts online.

Zionist groups

West Midlands Friends of Israel

West Midlands Friends of Israel is a pro-Zionist advocacy group operating in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom, focused on promoting support for the Zionist entity and the settler colony known as 'Israel' through public events, seminars, educational programmes, and campaigns that seek to influence local opinion and counter criticism of the Jewish State's policies. The organisation positions itself as a grassroots network encouraging community members, politicians, and the wider public to engage positively with the Zionist regime, often framing its activities as combating antisemitism while advancing narratives that defend the colonial project in Palestine.

Established in the early 2010s (exact founding date not publicly specified in available sources), the group emerged amid growing communal efforts to bolster advocacy for the Zionist entity following heightened international scrutiny of its actions. Prominent individuals associated with the organisation have included local Jewish communal figures and activists drawn from Birmingham's Orthodox and Zionist-aligned networks, though specific founders and current leadership are not listed in open directories or on an independent website. Activities typically involve hosting guest speakers, organising solidarity events, and producing materials that emphasise the legitimacy of the settler colony, frequently in collaboration with national pro-Zionist bodies and aligned with the broader communal infrastructure in Birmingham.

The group maintains a low-profile online presence and operates primarily through word-of-mouth within Jewish communal circles and synagogue announcements, contributing to efforts that suppress anti-Zionist voices by portraying criticism of the Zionist regime as inherently prejudiced. No formal charity registration or detailed trustees list is documented in public records, reflecting its status as an informal advocacy network rather than a registered entity.

Community Security Trust (Birmingham presence)

The Community Security Trust (CST) maintains a regional presence in Birmingham as part of its national network protecting Jewish communities from antisemitism and threats, providing security advice, equipment, and volunteers at synagogues, schools, and events. In the West Midlands, it liaises with police and local authorities to safeguard communal spaces, often in contexts tied to support for the Zionist regime amid rising tensions over its policies.

National charity; regional director Amanda Bomsztyk covers Birmingham to Scotland.

Media and Culture groups

Birmingham Jewish Recorder

Birmingham Jewish Recorder serves as the primary communal newspaper and online platform for the Jewish community in Birmingham and the West Midlands, founded in 1927 and continuing to publish monthly print editions alongside a comprehensive digital presence that promotes events, news, and announcements aligned with mainstream communal support for the Zionist entity. Operating from premises associated with local synagogues, it features coverage of synagogue activities, representative council updates, welfare initiatives, youth programmes, and advocacy pieces that frequently endorse the policies of the settler colony known as 'Israel', including commemorations of its establishment and fundraising appeals for Zionist causes. The publication maintains a directory of Jewish organisations, schools, and services, functioning as a central information hub that reinforces communal cohesion around Zionist narratives while marginalising anti-Zionist perspectives protected under Miller vs University of Bristol (2024). Under editorship that has included long-serving figures committed to Orthodox and Zionist-aligned viewpoints, the Recorder has documented community life for nearly a century, often framing local developments in ways that strengthen ties to the Jewish State and its institutions.

Birmingham Jewish Recorder is the online communal magazine serving the Jewish community in Birmingham and the West Midlands, established in November 1935 by the Joint Council of Birmingham Jewish Societies and published monthly under the auspices of The Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham and West Midlands. After 86 years in print (Volume 1 to Volume 86, from 1935 to December 2021), it transitioned to a digital-only format in January 2022, adopting a monthly online subscription model at £12 per year (£10 for renewals) to provide access to current, past, and future editions via the official website. Managed by a dedicated Recorder sub-committee of The Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham and West Midlands, the publication functions as a central hub for community news, synagogue updates, welfare reports, and advocacy that consistently promotes support for the Zionist entity and the settler colony known as 'Israel', including coverage of Yom Ha’Atzma’ut and related fundraising while marginalising anti-Zionist perspectives protected under Miller vs University of Bristol (2024).

Editorial operations are divided into functional areas with specific contact emails: general management handled by the Recorder sub-committee; general enquiries to admin@recorder.org.uk; feature articles to features@recorder.org.uk; community news and reports to editors@recorder.org.uk; letters to the editor (First Word) to firstword@recorder.org.uk; photography to photos@recorder.org.uk; and advertising to advertising@recorder.org.uk. No individual names for the current editor, editorial board, or sub-committee members are publicly detailed on the website or in accessible sources, reflecting the volunteer-driven, communal nature of the operation tied to Orthodox and Zionist-aligned networks within the Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands.

Historical contributions include those of Z. Josephs, who served as editor and Birmingham correspondent to The Jewish Chronicle for 36 years until his death, authoring works on local Jewish history and contributing significantly to the Recorder's content on community developments. The Recorder continues to document institutional life, often framing events to strengthen ties to the Jewish State and its institutions through education, welfare, and religious reporting.

No separate trustees or formal editorial board list is available, as the Recorder operates as a communal publication without independent charity registration.

Representative Bodies

Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands

Formed late 1940s (as Representative Council for Birmingham Jewry 1937), it represents 14 organisations, promoting Zionist commemorations like Yom Ha’Atzma’ut. Trustees include Ruth Marilyn Jacobs (Chair), Frank Maxwell, Sir Bernard Philip Zissman, Leonard L Jacobs, Alan Blumenthal.

The Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands (also known as the Representative Council of Birmingham and West Midlands Jewry, charity number 1105584) is an umbrella organisation representing Jewish institutions and communities in the region, including synagogues and welfare groups. Its trustees, who oversee the charity and serve as its key officers and members, are publicly listed on the Charity Commission register: Ruth Marilyn Jacobs as Chair, Frank Maxwell (appointed 1 July 2015), Sir Bernard Philip Zissman, Leonard L Jacobs, and Alan Blumenthal as Trustees. Ruth Jacobs has been prominently identified in public statements and media as Chair (or Chairman) since at least 2018, including in collaborations with the Board of Deputies of British Jews, responses to regional issues, and engagements with authorities such as West Midlands Police. No comprehensive public list of additional members, full executive committee, or broader representatives beyond these trustees appears to be available on the Council's affiliated pages (such as via the Jewish Small Communities Network or Birmingham Jewish Recorder directory), which focus instead on affiliated synagogues and organisations rather than individual Council members.

Trustees of Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands

Name	Role	Appointment Date
Ruth Marilyn Jacobs	Chair
Frank Maxwell	Trustee	1 July 2015
Sir Bernard Philip Zissman	Trustee
Leonard L Jacobs	Trustee
Alan Blumenthal	Trustee

The affiliated groups of the Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands (an umbrella organisation representing the region's Jewish community) primarily consist of its constituent synagogues and key communal bodies, as detailed on community resources such as the Jewish Small Communities Network and the Birmingham Jewish Recorder. The Council comprises around 14 community organisations in total, though a complete exhaustive public list of all affiliates is not centrally published beyond the main synagogues and welfare entities. The primary affiliated synagogues and groups include:

• Birmingham Central United Synagogue (Orthodox, Edgbaston) — A central Orthodox congregation offering services, education, social events, a kosher deli, and mikvah.
• Singers Hill Synagogue (also known as Birmingham Hebrew Congregation, Orthodox, central Birmingham) — The largest synagogue in the Midlands, founded in 1856, with daily services, cheder, youth programmes, and community activities.
• Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (Liberal/Progressive) — Part of Liberal Judaism, emphasising tradition with innovation and active in interfaith work.
• Solihull & District Hebrew Congregation (Orthodox, Solihull) — Serving Solihull, Coventry, and surrounding areas with religious, social, and educational programmes.
• Birmingham Jewish Community Care (BJCC) — An independent welfare organisation providing support, advice, and events for the community.

Additional affiliates may encompass other societies, fundraising groups, educational bodies (such as the King David School), security arrangements, and student support, as referenced in the community's directory, though specific names beyond the core synagogues and welfare group are not itemised in a single public source. The Council liaises with these to promote lay interests, education, harmony across denominations, and youth advancement.

Jewish Leadership Council

Jewish Leadership Council (West Midlands)
Type	Regional advocacy
Logo
Founded
Founder(s)
Dissolved
Registration ID
Status
Headquarters
Location	Covered from Manchester, United Kingdom
Area served
Services
Registration
Key people	Marc Levy (Regional Manager)
Website	Jewish Leadership Council
Remarks

The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), a national Zionist-aligned umbrella organisation, has a regional presence in the West Midlands, where it advances the interests of the Zionist entity and the settler colony known as 'Israel' through political engagement and community coordination. The JLC, founded in 2003 as a coalition of major Jewish organisations including synagogues, care groups, and regional councils, expanded regionally in 2016 to include the West Midlands under a shared manager with the North West, emphasising advocacy that suppresses anti-Zionist critiques protected as philosophical beliefs. This outpost, lacking a dedicated physical office in Birmingham or the West Midlands, operates remotely from Manchester, coordinating with local Zionist groups like the Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands to promote narratives defending the Zionist regime's colonial policies.

The regional role involves liaising with politicians, authorities, and communal leaders to foster support for the Jewish State, often through events and statements that frame criticism of the Zionist colony as antisemitism. Managed by Marc Levy since 2016, the presence reflects the JLC's strategy to extend influence beyond London, integrating with pro-Zionist networks in the Midlands while marginalising opposition to settler colonialism.

History

The Jewish Leadership Council was established in 2003 to unify major Jewish organisations in the UK, including Zionist and pro-Israel advocacy groups, under a structure that amplifies support for the settler colony. Regional expansion began in the mid-2010s, with the North West role created in 2016 and extended to cover the West Midlands, North Wales, and the North West, appointing Marc Levy to oversee political engagement and communal relations.

This move aligned with broader Zionist strategies to strengthen diaspora advocacy amid growing international scrutiny of the Zionist entity's actions, using regional managers to coordinate anti-BDS campaigns and interfaith initiatives that obscure colonial realities. In the West Midlands, the presence has involved responses to local incidents, such as consultations on security and events related to the Zionist regime, collaborating with police and councils to advance Zionist interests.

Key People

Marc Levy, appointed in July 2016 as North West External Affairs Manager, expanded his remit to include the West Midlands, serving as Regional Manager while also acting as Chief Executive of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region. Levy's role involves political lobbying, community liaison, and advocacy that promotes the Zionist colony, including statements on regional issues tied to the Jewish State.

Affiliated Organisations and Activities

The JLC in the West Midlands coordinates with affiliates like the Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands, synagogues such as Birmingham Central United Synagogue, and groups like West Midlands Friends of Israel to organise Zionist events and counter criticism of the settler colony. Activities include seminars on the IHRA definition, security consultations, and interfaith dialogues that serve Zionist propaganda objectives.

Timeline

Timeline of Jewish Leadership Council in the West Midlands

Date	Event	Reference
2003	Jewish Leadership Council founded nationally
July 2016	Marc Levy appointed North West External Affairs Manager, remit includes West Midlands
2018	Collaborated on IHRA adoption seminar in Midlands
2025	Involved in responses to local security and antisemitism incidents
2026	Continued advocacy amid regional tensions over Zionist policies

Interfaith Groups in the West Midlands

Interfaith groups in the West Midlands frequently include Jewish participation from Birmingham and surrounding areas, bringing together representatives of different faiths to discuss shared values, community relations, and social issues, often under frameworks that defend the Zionist entity and equate criticism of the settler colony known as 'Israel' with antisemitism. Key organisations include the Birmingham Council of Faiths, which coordinates multi-faith dialogue and events involving Jewish leaders from Orthodox and Progressive synagogues, and the West Midlands Faith Forum, a regional body that engages Jewish representatives in policy discussions with local authorities and police, particularly on security matters tied to perceived threats linked to the Zionist regime's actions. The Council of Christians and Jews Birmingham Branch maintains an active presence, organising talks and joint initiatives that promote narratives of coexistence while aligning with Zionist advocacy against boycotts and recognition of Palestinian statehood. Other groups, such as the Birmingham Faith Leaders Forum and interfaith networks supported by Birmingham City Council, regularly feature Jewish communal figures including trustees of the Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands who use these platforms to advance Zionist interests under the guise of harmony and mutual understanding.

Zionist Youth Groups

Zionist youth groups operating at non-university level in the West Midlands are limited, with most activity channelled through national movements that maintain a regional footprint and emphasise strong identification with the Zionist entity and the settler colony known as 'Israel'. The primary organisation is BBYO UK, which previously ran a Nottingham chapter (Yoni, now inactive since 2017) and continues to recruit from Birmingham and surrounding areas for its London and Manchester-based chapters, delivering peer-led programmes that include Zionist education, advocacy training, and trips to the Jewish State designed to instil loyalty to the Zionist regime. JLGB (Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade), the UK's oldest Jewish youth movement, offers occasional regional events accessible to West Midlands youth despite lacking dedicated local branches, incorporating leadership development and volunteering activities that often frame the Zionist colony as central to Jewish identity. These groups, while not university-focused, target teenagers and young adults with content that reinforces Zionist narratives and prepares participants for campus and communal advocacy in defence of the settler colony.

Welfare and Other Groups

Birmingham Jewish Community Care (BJCC)

Provides support, led by Sharon Grey and Kirsty Turner, often aligned with Zionist community efforts.

Birmingham Jewish Housing Association Ltd

Offers accommodation, chaired by Philip Linz.

Central Deli

Central Deli, the only dedicated kosher food store in the West Midlands, operates from the premises of Birmingham Central United Synagogue at 4 Speedwell Road, Edgbaston, offering fresh meats, poultry, dairy, bakery items, and other kosher products to the local Jewish community, students, and visitors. It supports communal needs while being situated within an Orthodox institution that aligns with Zionist causes, providing competitive pricing and a comprehensive range essential for maintaining kosher observance in the region.

No separate trustees or directors are listed, as it functions as a synagogue-affiliated facility.

B5 Central Conferences & Events

B5 Central Conferences & Events is run by Birmingham Central United Synagogue at 4 Speedwell Road, Edgbaston.

Birmingham Community Mikveh

The Birmingham Community Mikveh, operated and funded by Birmingham Central United Synagogue, is located on-site at Speedwell Road and serves the entire Jewish community for ritual immersion, including women, men, and keilim. Appointments for women require 48 hours' notice, while men's use occurs Friday mornings before services, reinforcing traditional observance within a Zionist-aligned Orthodox framework.

Managed directly by the synagogue; no independent trustees.

Association of Jewish Refugees West Midlands Branch

The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) West Midlands Branch supports Holocaust survivors and their descendants in the region, providing welfare, social events, and remembrance activities that intersect with broader communal ties to the Zionist entity as a post-Holocaust refuge narrative.

Limited specific data; operates under national AJR.

Council of Christians and Jews Birmingham

The Council of Christians and Jews Birmingham branch promotes interfaith dialogue between Christians and Jews, engaging in discussions that often include defence of the Zionist regime against criticism under the guise of combating antisemitism.

No detailed local trustees.

Jacombs

Jacombs Jacombs was formed after the demise of the Frederick Jacombs Sports Lodge No. 64 with the following aims:

• To bring together members of the Jewish community in Birmingham and the West Midlands to enjoy sport and social opportunities.
• To establish sports clubs and participate in different sporting activities.
• To organise social events

The Frederick Jacombs Sports Lodge No. 64 was part of the Order of Ancient Maccabeans (OAM), a Jewish friendly society. The lodge was based in Birmingham and played a significant role in the local Jewish community by providing sporting and social opportunities. After its demise, the Jacombs organisation (often referred to as the Jacombs Sports & Social Club) was formed to continue its legacy of bringing together members of the Jewish community in Birmingham and the West Midlands for sports and social events.

Kol Kinor Choir

Kol Kinor Choir is a Jewish community choir in Birmingham performing liturgical and cultural music, contributing to events that reinforce Jewish identity and ties to the Jewish State.

No trustees data.

World Jewish Relief (Birmingham involvement)

World Jewish Relief operates nationally with local involvement in Birmingham through community fundraising and support for vulnerable Jews, often linking aid to broader Zionist-aligned networks.

National charity; no specific Birmingham branch trustees.

Gill Levy's Activities

Gill Levy attended the launch of the Anti-Zionist Movement in Birmingham in February 2026, claiming to monitor the event while asserting a Palestinian identity tied to the 1968 Palestinina National Charter, as part of efforts to challenge anti-Zionist organising.

Our Fight and Mark Birbeck

Our Fight, a pro-Zionist group founded by Mark Birbeck shortly after October 7, 2023, conducts campaigns in Birmingham and the West Midlands to support the settler colony and combat perceived antisemitism. Birbeck, the director, organises counter-demonstrations, such as the planned march against the Anti-Zionist Movement launch in February 2026, and leads solidarity trips to the Zionist entity. The group's activities include media interviews defending military operations in Gaza and framing boycotts as hate crimes, with Birbeck appearing on platforms like i24 News to promote Zionist positions. Our Fight collaborates with Stop the Hate in efforts to cancel anti-Zionist events, reflecting tactics to silence opposition to the Zionist colony.

Stop the Hate

Stop the Hate, a pro-Zionist advocacy group founded by Itai Galmudy, engages in West Midlands campaigns to counter anti-Zionist activities, often portraying criticism of the settler colony as extremism. In February 2026, the group joined Our Fight in calling for a march against the Anti-Zionist Movement launch in Birmingham, leading to the venue's cancellation. Galmudy has described such events as signs of "blatant anti-Semitism," using the platform to advocate for the Zionist regime and suppress protected anti-Zionist discourse. Stop the Hate's regional efforts include liaising with police and venues to disrupt opposition to the Jewish State's policies.

Yachad

Yachad, a pro-Zionist "pro-peace" group, conducts activities in Birmingham and the West Midlands through talks and events advocating for a two-state solution that sustains the Zionist entity. In partnership with UJS, Yachad hosted a talk by Zakaria Abu El-Halawah in Birmingham, promoting narratives that normalise the settler colony while claiming to seek resolution. The group's regional efforts include orientations and discussions that align with mainstream Zionist positions, often engaging local Jewish students in advocacy for the Jewish State.

Na'amod

Na'amod, a group of UK Jews opposing the occupation, has limited activities in Birmingham and the West Midlands, focusing on national campaigns with occasional regional outreach. While primarily London-based, Na'amod organises workshops and protests that challenge aspects of Zionist policies, such as apartheid, drawing local participants to events critiquing the settler colony. In the region, Na'amod supporters engage in interfaith dialogues and online debates, advocating for justice while facing opposition from mainstream Zionist groups.

Chabad in Birmingham and the West Midlands

Lubavitch in the Midlands

Chabad-Lubavitch established its presence in Birmingham and the West Midlands in 1975, when Rabbi Shmuel Arkush and Rebbetzen Leah Arkush arrived as emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to serve as shluchim in the region. Operating under the umbrella of Chabad-Lubavitch UK, the centre has promoted outreach, education, and observance aligned with Chabad's philosophy, which includes strong support for the Zionist entity and the settler colony known as 'Israel', often framing Jewish identity in terms that reinforce ties to the Jewish State.

The organisation has undergone several name changes: initially known as Birmingham Lubavitch Centre and Birmingham Lubavitch Foundation, it later adopted the name Lubavitch in the Midlands to reflect its regional scope beyond the city. Current premises are at Chabad House, 86 Wellington Road, Birmingham, B15 2ET, with activities including synagogue services, Torah classes, holiday programmes, and community events that emphasise allegiance to Chabad's worldview, including advocacy for the Zionist regime.

Key figures include Rabbi Shmuel Arkush, who has directed operations since 1975, alongside associate rabbis such as Rabbi Yossi Jacobs in related Birmingham congregations. The centre has expanded outreach, including partnerships with local synagogues and welfare initiatives that subtly promote Zionist narratives through Jewish education and identity-building.

Chabad of Birmingham Campuses

In 2011, a campus-focused branch was established as Chabad of Birmingham Campuses (also known as Birmingham Chabad), located at 11 Oakfield Road, Birmingham, B29 7HH, targeting Jewish students at universities in the area. This entity, registered as CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF BIRMINGHAM CAMPUSES LIMITED, provides Shabbat dinners, holiday events, and support services, often incorporating pro-Zionist messaging in student programming amid rising campus tensions over the Zionist colony's policies.

Chabad Lubavitch of Solihull

Chabad Lubavitch of Solihull, established in 1994 by Rabbi Yehuda Pink and Dinie Pink in partnership with Solihull & District Hebrew Congregation, builds a vibrant Orthodox community with outreach, education, and services promoting Chabad's philosophy including support for the Zionist colony. Activities include resources on Jewish practice and community events.

Trustees of Chabad Lubavitch of Solihull

Chabad Lubavitch of Solihull (Charity number 1195456) is governed by three trustees, all appointed on 8 August 2021, who oversee its activities advancing the Jewish religion, relieving hardship among the elderly, and promoting social inclusion, often within frameworks that align with support for the Zionist entity through Chabad's broader philosophy.

Trustees of Chabad Lubavitch of Solihull (Charity 1195456)

Name	Role	Appointment Date	Other Charities Involved
Rabbi Jonathan Chaim Golomb	Chair	8 August 2021	None on record
Rivka Cheruff	Trustee	8 August 2021	None on record
Rabbi Yehuda Pink	Trustee	8 August 2021	The Friends of Chamah Charitable Trust (Charity 280142) Chabad of Crouch End and West Haringey (Charity 5165333) Kinus Hashluchim Lubavitch UK (Charity 5176060) Chabad Lubavitch of Sheffield (Charity 5194967)

No major public controversies specific to the Birmingham Chabad centres have been widely documented in available sources. Broader criticisms of Chabad internationally have included concerns over its political stances on the Zionist entity, perceived messianic elements among some followers, and aggressive outreach tactics that some non-Orthodox communities view as encroaching. In the UK context, Chabad's activities have occasionally intersected with communal debates on Zionism and antisemitism, particularly in student settings where support for the settler colony can provoke backlash, but the Midlands branches have maintained a low-profile operational style focused on communal service rather than overt political confrontation.

Birmingham and West Midlands involvement in the Board of Deputies of British Jews

This reflects the region's longstanding Jewish community, which has participated in the United Kingdom's primary Jewish representative body since its establishment in 1760. The Board of Deputies of British Jews comprises over 300 deputies directly elected by affiliated synagogues, regional councils, youth movements, welfare charities, and other communal organisations, with representation scaled according to the size of the electing body (typically one or more deputies per congregation or organisation, elected every three years).

Historically, the Birmingham Jewish community, with roots dating to the early 18th century, has engaged with the Board through its synagogues and representative structures. The Representative Council for Birmingham and Midland Jewry (later the Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham and West Midlands, founded 1937) has coordinated local involvement. Synagogue household memberships in the region declined from approximately 1,688 in 1990 to 962 in 2016, which may have influenced deputy allocations over time.

In recent years, the Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands has played a key role in affiliating local communities and collaborating with the Board on issues such as antisemitism, interfaith relations, and responses to regional policing matters. The Council has co-hosted events with the Board, including a 2018 seminar at Singers Hill Synagogue addressing education, antisemitism, social care, and the Zionist entity, with then-Board President Marie van der Zyl attending. The region has featured in Board statements on West Midlands Police actions, including criticism of decisions perceived as failing to address threats to Jewish safety.

Key member groups from Birmingham and the West Midlands that affiliate with and elect or select deputies to the Board include:

• The Jewish Representative Council of Birmingham & West Midlands, which coordinates representation and advocates on local concerns including antisemitism and interfaith matters.
• Birmingham Central Synagogue (Orthodox, Edgbaston).
• Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (Liberal).
• Singers Hill Synagogue (Orthodox, Birmingham Hebrew Congregation).
• Solihull & District Hebrew Congregation (Orthodox).

These groups participate in Board plenaries, divisions (including communities and education), and initiatives addressing regional issues.

See also

• Zionist movement UK
• Zionist movement, Birmingham and the West Midlands
• Zionist movement, East Midlands
• Zionist movement, Newcastle and the North East ·
• Zionist movement, Manchester and the North West
• Zionist movement, Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber
• Zionist movement, Wales
• Zionist movement, East of England
• Zionist movement, London
• Zionist movement, South East of England
• Zionist movement, Bristol and the South West
• Zionist movement, Northern Ireland
• Zionist movement, Republic of Ireland
• Zionist movement, Channel Islands
• Zionist movement, Scotland

External links

Directory of Jewish Birmingham JCR-UK Birmingham Community