• Connecting:

    Building bridges to connect people

  • Representing:

    A helping hand between the communities

WHO WE ARE

The CJC works to connect and support Commonwealth Jewish communities and represent them 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.


The CJC stands with Israel.

Happy Jewish New Year!

We are delighted to welcome Cameroon and Guernsey to the CJC!

Lord Mendelsohn, President, and the Vice-Presidents of the Commonwealth Jewish Council are delighted to announce that Jewish communities in Cameroon and Guernsey have affiliated to the CJC. 

The CJC is a growing, vibrant family and we are proud to be represent across even more of the Commonwealth. We will continue to advocate on behalf of all of our communities, and on issues affecting us all. 

Chag Sameach – Happy Passover!

We were proud to host a Commonwealth Diplomatic Model Seder, led by CEO Clive Lawton at Westminster Synagogue, specially designed to give our Commonwealth colleagues and friends an authentic encounter with this ancient and meaningful Jewish tradition.

The themes that the Passover Seder explores – in slavery, freedom, antisemitism and hope in the future – remain contemporary and relevant today. Thank you to our wonderful attendees who fully got into the Seder spirit.

We were delighted to welcome representatives and guests from the Church of England, the High Commissions of Australia, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, Dominica, St. Lucia and Botswana, as well as colleagues from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Centre for Commonwealth Affairs, the Royal Commonwealth Society, Commonwealth Education Girls Fund and the Commonwealth Foundation.

On behalf of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, and our President Lord Mendelsohn, we wish all of our communities, a Chag Peseach Sameach! 

It is with tremendous sadness that we share with you the news that our former much-valued partner in our work, Ann Harris, has passed away.

Ann was an indefatigable activist, making the world richer for her involvement. She always spoke truth to power – preserving the legacy of her late husband, Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris, and pursuing her own concerns and passions, which always related to the marginal, disadvantaged or ignored. In the CJC we highly valued her relentless concern for the small communities all around Africa, accepting their challenges as her charge.

She was a pillar of this generation of Jewish, and will be remembered as good-humoured, far-sighted, determined, loving, and indifferent to the recognition that so obviously was her due.

Baruch Dayan Ha-emet

Commonwealth Day

10 March 2023

The Commonwealth Jewish Council sends our best wishes to all celebrating Commonwealth Day! We are proud to embody this year’s theme ‘Forging a Sustainable and Peaceful Common Future’ throughout our work. See below to see how!
  • CJC Commonwealth Principles
  • Small Island Big Challenges
  • Manifesto: In Pursuit of Climate Justice

WORK & PROGRAMMES

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

  • Pesach Resources: ‘How to run a Seder’ a YouTube series with Rabbi Netanel Kaszovitz

    24 March 2022
    Check out these fantastic Pesach resources on ‘How to run a Seder’ with Rabbi Netanel Kaszovitz
  • Online event 01.02.2022: ‘A Jewish Woman’s Journey to Success’

    13 January 2022
    ‘A Jewish Woman’s Journey to Success’ an online event with Dr Janét Aizenstros, Chairwoman and CEO of Ahava Digital Group.
  • CJC at COP26

    1 November 2021
    What are our religious leaders doing to rise to the climate challenge? Watch here CJC panel event at COP26
  • Statement by the President of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, Lord Mendelsohn

    27 October 2021
    Climate Challenge and the Jewish World
  • Five things Jewish communities can do to get involved in COP26

    26 October 2021
    The CJC has issued suggestions as to five things that Jews can do immediately to shift the current damaging and deteriorating trajectory of the world in a more constructive direction.’
  • Are Religious Leaders Rising to the Climate Challenge? Join CJC at COP26

    20 October 2021
  • CJC to attend COP26 in November 2021

    1 October 2021
    The Commonwealth Jewish Council is taking a leading role on environmental issues and will be participating in COP26, the global United Nations climate change summit in Glasgow.
  • CJC hosts the World’s Biggest ‘Sukkah Hop’

    6 September 2021
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • CHOGM 2022

    The CJC was represented at the peoples forum, and the womens forum at CHOGM 2022

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