The Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks has decided to resign from The Board in order to develop his writing and other freelance opportunities.

The move will also allow Sir Jonathan to keep the money he has been making from his writing and books which previously was donated by him as Tzedakah - charity to the Jewish and non-Jewish community.

In his time, he has donated over £150,322 from the royalties of his books and other projects in which he has been paid and in which he has always accounted to the community.

“Sir Jonathan is a great example of a man who is committed to the community and has served us well, especially with his ever giving nature to all. We are sorry to see Sir Jonathan leave the Board as one of our members, but appreciate his honest approach that he wishes to develop his own personal projects including additional writing columns in national newspapers and a new book,” said Board president Harry Greenberg. “I look forward to being one of the first to read the book Sir Jonathan has been telling us about for years.”

“When I joined The Board way back in 1974, I never realised how much it would grow and what a wonderful group it has become, but now, 30 years later, it is time to move on,” said Sir Jonathan. “It is also time for me to start work on a novel that has been in my head for the last decade and I can only do this by stepping down form current commitments to focus on my creative side.”

The Board of Guardians of British Jews has raised concern over the way a Virgin Trains poster is currently being displayed in a popular Jewish area.

The poster located in the lower end of Golders Green Road in north West London and directly opposite a parade of Jewish and kosher shops shows large images of sausages.

“We have had over 125 phonecalls since this poster went up,” said Board director of communications Shirley Bloom. “People have been concerned over the image which looks like that of a pork sausage. Had it been a beef sausage, we wouldn’t have such an issue, but being pork, it brings memories of when McDonalds had a poster of a bagel with bacon inside it and displayed that to the Jewish community. We were offended then and we are offended now. It is not right or proper that large images of traife products are blatantly shown in such a vile manner in what is a large and popular area with the Jewish community.”

When the Board contacted Virgin Trains, a spokesperson refused to reveal the source of the meat on the poster. “These sausages are for the traditional British breakfast we serve, we also offer vegetarian options.”

The Board has now issued a formal letter to Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson in which it asked for the removal of the poster and a clarification as to the meat content. The Board has further suggested that, like his airline Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Trains should also offer pre-booked kosher meals on the train.

“The Jewish community has always had good dialogue with Sir Richard Branson and his businesses, ever since we raised concern over the way in which his artist Sid Vicious used to wear a Nazi emblem,” said Board president Harry Greenberg. “Sid apologised to us in 1977 and used part of his proceeds from My Way to set up the Sid Vicious Jewish Music Foundation which to this day is still supported by the music industry including Sir Richard. We don’t know what has happened with the train poster going up, but it needs to go down.”