Our Commitment to Inclusion
At Le’karev we want every Jewish business person to be able to access a space that feels safe, inclusive and welcoming. We aim to ensure there are no barriers for anyone wishing to participate in the community we have created.
We are deeply committed to bringing every person from the Jewish business community closer to us and we commit to working actively to make that happen successfully and inclusively. It is for this reason we have chosen the name Le’karev which means “to bring closer”.
We recognise the Jewish community is one part of a much wider intersection for inclusion. Regardless of your gender; gender expression; sexuality; heritage and background; disability; neurotype; level of Jewish observance; or whether you are Jewish by birth or by choice: you are welcome within Le’karev.
We believe that meaningful inclusion does not mean isolating ourselves. Le’karev exists to meet the unique needs of Jewish businesses as an addition to, not a replacement for, our members’ wider networks and connections. We value collaboration with a broad range of businesses and organisations outside our community and welcome opportunities to work with others who share our values and our commitment to inclusion.
Inclusion Creates Safety
We prioritise the need for safety in our community and spaces. For this reason we host our network meetings within secure synagogue buildings and implement security measures to protect our members. “Safety” does not only refer to physical safety though - it also means knowing you are in an environment where you will be respected, included and valued, without fear of discrimination or exclusion. At Le’karev, we believe that true inclusion creates this sense of safety.
We also recognise that with antisemitism at profoundly heightened levels in the UK and beyond, many spaces outside Le’karev may not feel safe or welcoming to Jewish people. In honouring the importance of meaningful inclusion, we affirm the right of our members to choose not to engage with individuals, businesses or organisations where they feel excluded or where any aspect of their identity - including their Jewish identity - is not fully respected. At the same time, we warmly welcome contact from any business or organisation that would like to have a conversation about how to be more actively inclusive and accessible to the Jewish community.
We acknowledge that differing views will naturally exist even within actively inclusive environments, but when participating in any of Le’karev’s spaces we expect all members and visitors to only share views that are respectful and aligned with Le’karev’s core values of inclusion. Anything that contradicts these may be considered discriminatory and will not be tolerated.
Hate and discrimination have no place within Le'karev, and we reserve the right to terminate membership without refund should any member behave in a way that we consider discriminatory or promoting hate against any intersection or group.
We at Le’karev know that inclusion is an evolving and ongoing process, and we are always open to receiving respectful and considered feedback about how we can do more. You can get in touch with us via enquiries@jewishbusiness.network if there’s something we can do to better support you or our community.
Our Founder's Story
Lizi has lived experience of the barriers that exist for inclusion as a Jewish, neurodivergent business owner with chronic illness and visible differences.
She has attended events that haven’t felt supportive of her needs and experience, and has come away with little benefit and negative perceptions. This has closed her access to networks in business. In contrast, she has attended positive and inclusive events that have been powerful and influential. Within these spaces we are there as business owners first and foremost, but we should feel that we can show up as our full selves: this is why it’s so important to feel welcome, regardless of who we are.
Lizi wants Le’karev to have a lasting positive impact within the Jewish community, and for it to remain a space where business owners and professionals can stand proudly in their multifaceted identities and overcome the barriers that exist for our community: which include stereotypes, misconceptions and assumptions about beliefs, values and culture. These cannot truly be perceived or understood if never experienced.
