A delegation of British Jewish representatives visited the Queen and took the opportunity to wish her mazel tov on her grandson Prince William's engagement to Kate Middleton pictured above.

Mazel Tov Wishes for Queen

A delegation of British Jewish representatives visited the Queen and took the opportunity to wish her mazel tov on her grandson Prince William’s engagement to Kate Middleton. Leading figures in the Board of Deputies went to Windsor Castle, just west of London, as part of the events to mark the 250th anniversary of the Board, which aims to represent the community. Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board, told the London Jewish Chronicle: “We congratulated her and she made a joke about it being about time for the engagement.” 250 years ago, a deputation from the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish community in Britain presented a ‘loyal address’ to King George III, on the occasion of his becoming King.

Resignations over ‘Anti-Semitic’ Lecturers’ Union

An eminent professor at Oxford University has resigned from the UK’s lecturers’ union in protest at the levels of anti-Semitism in the organisation. Denis Noble, chair of cardiovascular physiology at the prestigious institution, said the “punishment of Israeli colleagues for the actions of their government” by the University and College Union  (UCU) had made it “impossible” for him to continue his 50-year membership of the union, which has frequently tried to institute boycotts of Israeli academics. Noble, who is not Jewish, was joined in his resignation from the union by Michael Yudkin and David Smith, also scientists at Oxford University, who said it was “beyond dispute that UCU is now institutionally anti-Semitic.” Noble said he had written to Sally Hunt, the group’s general secretary, to complain about the “discrimination against Israeli colleagues” but had not received a reply. Hunt admitted “cause for concern” in light of the resignations but claimed the UCU was not anti-Semitic.

Mystery of Stolen Kristallnacht Memorial

A large monument commemorating Kristallnacht has been stolen from the Jewish cemetery in Cologne, Germany. The item was taken last Sunday night, according to the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz. The local community is offering a reward of 4,000 Euro (just under $5,500) to anyone who can provide information that would help find it. The nine-foot monument represented religious objects rescued during of the “Night of Broken Glass,” when Nazi-sanctioned mobs went round cities across Germany destroying Jewish buildings. The theft came barely a week after events to mark the anniversary of the 1938 rampage.

Combined Archives to Ease Holocaust Research

All existing archives related to the Holocaust will be combined in one online database, as part of an initiative launched in Brussels. The European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI) is working with approximately $9.5 million granted by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research. Students, academics and relatives of Shoah victims will have online access to resources from 20 states across Europe and Israel.

Blackpool Rock Gets Kosher Stamp

A major producer of Blackpool Rock, the candy associated with the popular seaside resort in the north west of England, has been granted a kashrut licence, making it the first fully kosher factory producing the famous confectionery.  The Manchester Beth Din approved the producer Coronation Rock, one of the oldest makers of the iconic boiled sweet stick. Items will be stocked in supermarkets and Jewish shops, while entrepreneur Colin Levene said his kosher candy has received interest from the US, Israel and Brazil. Rabbi Hillel Royde of the Manchester Beth Din told the London Jewish Chronicle that the process to make the products kosher took six months and involved research into the ingredients of all the flavourings used.