JFS Ruling - UK Supreme Court

JFS Ruling - UK Supreme Court

Wed 16 Dec 23:00

By the narrowest of margins (5 to 4) the UK Supreme Court today found against the JFS and held that its admissions criteria were directly racially discriminatory.

However, Lord Rodger made the point that the decision of the majority “leads to such extraordinary results, and produces such manifest discrimination against Jewish schools in comparison with other faith schools, that one can’t help feeling that something has gone wrong” 

Indeed, the vast majority of the Justices expressed the view that the law may be wrong! To that end we are engaging with the Board of Deputies to see whether further action can be taken on that front.

 

All of the Justices went out of their way to make it clear that the admissions policy was not ‘racist’, and that the Chief Rabbi, the US and the JFS acted with great sincerity, and are entirely free from moral blame. 

I attach our Press Release, and that of the Chief Rabbi and the JFS for your information, as well as a Briefing Note which hopefully answers some of your questions. The link to the Supreme Court is http://www.supremecourt.gov.uk/news/judgments.html should you wish to read the almost 150 page Judgment for yourself.

 

As far as the future is concerned, the schools, with our assistance, are considering refinements to the current religious practice test, although, as Lord Rodger also said, “Jewish schools will be forced to apply a concocted test for deciding who is to be admitted.  That test might appeal to this secular court but it has no basis whatsoever in 3,500 years of Jewish law and teaching.” 

Whilst therefore we are very disappointed with the result, and think the Court has got it wrong, nevertheless we can take comfort from the narrowness of the defeat, the comments made by all of the Justices about our actions and our intent, and especially their clear statement about how in truth the law itself may be wrong.

 

If you have any questions I will do my best to answer them, or by all means contact the PR Office as noted in the Press Release. 

 

Kind regards, 

Jeremy Jacobs BSc (Econ) CA FCCA

Chief Executive

United Synagogue

Tel: 020 8343 5686

Web: www.theus.org.uk