Laura awarded CBE by King Brighton’s Shabbat of unity

Holocaust Memorial Day chair Laura Marks

OBE has been awarded a CBE in the King Charles III’s first Birthday Honours List.

Laura picked up the accolade as social campaigner and broadcaster, interfaith relations, Holocaust and genocide education and commemoration, and empowerment of women.

HMD said that impact Laura had made on social cohesion was profound.

“She has dedicated decades to creating engaging and influential Third Sector initiatives which bring people from different backgrounds together to strengthen civil society,” they noted. “

Amongst notable work, Laura founded Mitzvah Day in 2008 and co-founded Nisa-Nashim, with Julie Siddiqi, a network bringing Jewish and Muslim women together across the UK, currently launching internationally, seven years later.

Awarded an OBE for interfaith relations in 2015, she was elected HMD Chair a year later. Laura has overseen the growth of HMD as a national day of commemoration.

“Her drive, inspirational leadership, ability to work collaboratively with others and sheer persistence ensure her initiatives flourish and are immensely effective here at home and, unusually, abroad,” HMD noted. “She goes the extra mile to change the lives of millions of people in the UK and beyond.”

Laura said: “To have this honour announced on the very day that our Honorary Life President Sir Ben Helfgott passed away highlights the critical importance of continuing to tell the stories. The real heroes are the survivors and the campaigners of the past who have told their stories and ensured we focus on the dangers of evil and hatred.”

HMD CEO, Olivia Marks-Woldman, noted: “She is a shining example of dedication, creativity and diligence. Throughout her tenure, she has consistently gone above and beyond, guiding us with wisdom, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to preserve the memory of the Holocaust. Under her stewardship, HMDT has flourished, ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust and more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur are heeded.”

Olivia added: “Few women have had a more profound, tangible impact on social cohesion. She has dedicated decades to creating engaging and influential initiatives such as Mitzvah Day, which bring people from different backgrounds together to strengthen civil society. She fearlessly crosses community barriers based on ignorance and suspicion, sensitively encouraging greater awareness of ‘strangers’ and building bridges.”

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis attended the Brighton and Hove Hebrew Congregation official opening of the new community centre last weekend.

Over 200 people including shul members, guests and local dignitaries attended the event introduced by the shul’s minister Rabbi Hershel Rader.

He said: “The enthusiasm, energy and creativity shown bodes extremely well for the resuscitated and re-invigorated congregation and local Jewish community.”

Chief Rabbi Mirvis spoke about the revitalisation of the Jewish Community as a result of the development, antisemitism, opening of a multi-faith centre in Abu Dhabi and the message of the Sedra, Shelach Lecha.

Mark Sugarman, BNJC Chief Executive, Tony Bloom, Chairman of the Bloom Foundation behind the new development, and fellow trustee Natasha Isaacs also gave speeches.

On Shabbat morning, Jonathan Metliss, recited the haftarah and co-sponsored the Kiddush.

The next joint davening and breakfast is at Hadley Wood Shul with Rabbi Landau of Barnet Shul speaking.