Marie van der Zyl

Marie Sarah van der Zyl (born November 1965) is the 48th President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Early life and career

Van der Zyl grew up in South Woodford, London, the daughter of Barry Kaye, who was in tailoring, and his wife Szusanne, a beautician. She attended the local comprehensive,[1] and took a law degree at Liverpool Polytechnic (now Liverpool John Moores University).[2]

Specialising in employment law because, she says, "I have always felt a real sense of justice and fairness", she defended gentlemen’s club chain Stringfellows in 2012, successfully arguing that the claimant, a lap dancer, was self-employed.[3]

Board of Deputies of British Jews

Van der Zyl was initially a Deputy for the Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade.[4] She took office as President on 1 June 2018, succeeding Jonathan Arkush, who did not seek re-election.[5][6] She is the second ever woman and fourth lawyer in a row to hold the role.[7] She is a self-described "fighter" and takes as a compliment the comparison that "the only difference between me and a Rottweiler is that a Rottweiler eventually lets go".[8]

Her visits to her grandparents gave her, she says, "a great passion for Israel"[1] and she believes that the Board exists "to promote a sympathetic understanding of Israel."[3] She has pledged to "defend Israel’s legitimacy and its centrality to Jewish identity".[9]

In 2018, The Jerusalem Post ranked her as the 40th most influential Jew.[10]

Other roles

Van der Zyl is an associate member of Mill Hill United Synagogue and a member of the management board of West London Synagogue.[9] She is a trustee of the Jewish Leadership Council.[11]

Personal life

Van der Zyl lives in Mill Hill, London.[4] Her husband Darell is an office furniture supplier and a member of West London Synagogue; they have two daughters.[1] She is the daughter-in-law of voice actress, Nikki van der Zyl, whose father was the West London Synagogue rabbi Werner van der Zyl.

References
  1. Rocker, Simon (18 May 2018). "The making of Marie". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  2. "Marie van der Zyl: Partner". Gordon Dadds LLP. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  3. "How to represent the British Jewish community? - Diaspora - Jerusalem Post". www.jpost.com.
  4. "Marie van der Zyl Unanimously Voted as JLGB's Deputy". Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  5. "Marie Van der Zyl elected as the new Board of Deputies president". The Jewish Chronicle. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  6. Sugarman, Daniel (13 March 2018). "Sheila Gewolb and Marie Van der Zyl running for Board of Deputies president". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  7. Cooper, Zaki (19 May 2018). "Election marks sea change for British Jewry". The Times. Retrieved 6 June 2018. (subscription required)
  8. Van der Zyl, Marie (18 November 2018). "Engagement does not mean concessions". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  9. "Marie van der Zyl announces Board of Deputies presidency bid". Jewish News. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  10. Chernick, Ilanit; Dell, Josh (9 September 2018). "40. MARIE VAN DER ZYL". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  11. "Trustees". JLC. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
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