Building bridges
to connect people and communities

Help us
A helping hand
between the communities

Help us

WHO WE ARE

The CJC works to enhance links between Commonwealth Jewish communities, advocate on their behalf and to give voice to their concerns, commitments, principles and positions on the wider international stage.

CJC provide direct support to thirty-eight existing Jewish communities across the Commonwealth. Over thirty are across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean holding our most small and vulnerable communities often operating in extremely dangerous environments. Some carry out Jewish practices without a synagogue building or a Rabbi to offer any leadership and guidance.
Jewish communities are able to maintain their religion and culture, and offer a way for Jewish life even in hostile environments from direct support from CJC. Small grants are allocated to build capacity, and we help to ensure delivery and the development of skills and knowledge within the communities.

CJC COMMUNITIES

GET INVOLVED

ABOUT US

DONATE

WORK & PROGRAMMES

Supporting Jewish Communities

The CJC would not exist without our 38 communities, across the Commonwealth and from five continents. Together with our communities and on their behalf we work hard to ensure all are able to celebrate the Jewish religion, culture and maintain Jewish life safely. We do this through a number of ways, from funding Jewish programming, diplomatic engagement and campaigning.

Inter-Religious Commonwealth Youth Alliance (IRCYA)

The Inter-religious Commonwealth Youth Alliance brings together exceptional young people, aged 18-29, coming from different religious groups across the Commonwealth.
The Alliance are passionate about inter-religious activities and are committed to exploring the issues and challenges facing young people today, and the role of religion, religious communities and religious identity can play in tackling these challenges.

Commonwealth Jewish Women’s Network (CJWN)

The Commonwealth Jewish Women’s Network is tapping into a diverse pool of talented women across the Commonwealth to form a vibrant international community for Jewish women to connect, contribute and grow.
The Network’s exceptional women are confronting the issues and challenges facing women and our communities today in areas including Women in Leadership, Social Action, Inter-faith Action, Women in the Workforce, the Environmental Challenge and Jewish Education in Small Communities.
Interested in joining or learning?

Campaigns

CJC works to protect and preserve Jewish life across the Commonwealth through advocacy. Our priorities are combating antisemitism, strengthening ties between Jewish communities, and ensuring that Jewish voices are present in the discussions on a range of issues that impact our global community.
We have adopted as our primary advocacy focus areas the championing of small islands states in their challenges posed by climate change and as well as leading efforts to have the IHRA definition of antisemitism adopted by governments and non-governmental organisations throughout the commonwealth.

Small Islands Big Challenges

IHRA Adoption

NEWS

Rabbi Netanel visits the Jewish Community of Arusha, Tanzania

29 July 2021

Check out this video of Rabbi Netanel’s visit to Arusha Jewish community in Tanzania and learn about the Yeminite Jews in Africa with Jewish community leader Yehuda Amir.

Read more
Commonwealth Jewish Council calls for release of ‘Nigeria three’

22 July 2021

Commonwealth Jewish Council (CJC) Chief Executive Clive Lawton is one of the many people working behind the scenes. Speaking to the SA Jewish Report from his home in the United Kingdom, he says he is alarmed that the men have been held in detention for more than a week without being charged. “That would indicate it’s only […]

Read more
CJC Covid-19 India Appeal

16 June 2021

In India, the pandemic still rages and obtaining oxygen, let alone hospital treatment, is not easy. On Lag Ba’omer, we sent out an urgent request to our communities across the commonwealth asking them to play their part in aiding the coronavirus crisis currently playing out in India. In less than two weeks, we have simply […]

Read more
CJC celebrates World Environment Day

4 June 2021

This Shabbat is #worldenvironmentday and here at the CJC we’ve spent the week looking at our role in the environmental challenges we all face. It’s been a busy week, these are just a few of the things we’ve been up to: Started our climate network with representatives from both small and large communities; including Canada, […]

Read more
CJC communities send condolences following death of Prince Philip

9 April 2021

CJC communities from across the Commonwealth are deeply saddened to hear that HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has passed away. On behalf of all of the Commonwealth Jewish Council we’d like to send our condolences to the The Royal Family during this difficult time.

Read more
Become part of CJWN

2 February 2021

The CJC calls on women from Commonwealth Jewish communities to become part of an empowered global community and become a united force for good.

Read more
Holocaust Memorial Day & Tu B’Shevat

27 January 2021

A message from Clive Lawton:

Read more
Happy Chanukah from the CJC

12 November 2020

A message from Clive Lawton:

Read more
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z’’l

9 November 2020

It is with huge sadness and a deep sense of loss that we at the Commonwealth Jewish Council heard the news of the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks on Shabbat 7th November 2020 after a brief and savage illness.

Read more
The World’s Biggest Sukkah Hop

7 October 2020

Read more