Board puts Yiddish on British Speaking Clock
Voiced by Larry David and sponsored by Bonn Matzo Company

The Board of Guardians of British Jews is delighted to announce the launch of the world’s first Yiddish language speaking clock service voiced by TV star Larry David as the final part of the 350th anniversary of Jews being readmitted back to England by oliver Cromwell.

Since deregulation of the speaking clock in 1996, British people have been able to dial and find out the time of the day in a choice of 12 languages including French, German, Italian, Somali, Polish and Urdu.

In 1998, The Board under guidance by then president Hannah Cohen launched a petition to get Yiddish included in the language choice.

“It has taken eight long years, but after much lobbying of the British communication regulatory authority, we now have Yiddish included in the speaking clock service and as part of our celebration of 350 years of being back in the country,” said Harry Greenberg, president of The Board. “We are delighted that Larry David is to be the voice of the speaking clock.”

The service which costs 10p a call is sponsored in part by the Bonn Matzo Company which has helped to keep the cost of the call at half the price of other similar services. “We are also honoured that Bonn is able to support this project,” Mr Greenberg added.

Before each time is read out, a message says “The time sponsored by Bonn Matzo is…”

For his part, Larry David was at first surprised at being approached to be the Yiddish voice British Jews call when needing to know the time.

“I didn’t know British people pay to hear the time of the day, but when I heard about the project to put Yiddish on the speaking clock, I know I had to be involved,” said Mr David. “My grandfather was from London, albeit, his boat docked there on its way to America, but I have always had the deepest respect not just for Britain but for its Jews and in honour of its 350th anniversary of Jews being readmitted back to England, this is something I can be involved in.”

Following recent incidents, The Board of Guardians of British Jews has decided to remove entertainer Sacha Baron Cohen from its honorary executive as well as fining him £9,000 and banning him from visiting any UK synagogue for six months.

The decision which was decided by The Board’s Surrey Beth Din takes affect from November 23 2006. Mr Baron Cohen can appeal the decision and has until October 23 to do so.

“We gave Mr Baron Cohen an informal warning over six months ago about the Borat character and how it is causing problems with the Kazakhstan government and that this is bringing major embarrassment to the Jewish community,” said Harry Greenberg, president of The Board. “Mr Baron Cohen ignored our letters and phonecalls and therefore after consultation with our rabbis, we have taken steps to exclude Mr Baron Cohen and let people know he is not connected with The Board and has been banned from setting foot into any synagogue for six months.”

The Board had hoped Mr Baron Cohen would stop performing as Borat but has not. Indeed, since The Board contacted him, Mr Baron Cohen in an act of defiance has actually increased his awareness of the character.

“We can only assume that Mr Baron Cohen is doing this as a total mark of disrespect to The Board,” said Board external director Emily Rosen. “He insults not only people from Kazakhstan, but also members of his own community. This we cannot accept lightly and therefore the steps we have taken should ensure that Mr Baron Cohen ceases to insult anyone.”

The move by The Board was in response to recent comments the US-based Anti-Defamation League has made about the harm Mr Barn Cohen is causing to US Jews.

“We have been informed that number of Jews in America are outraged by the antics of a British Jew, therefore in response to this, we have assured our US counterparts that on no UK Jew can cause such incidents in America and are grateful to the ADL for their support in this matter,” Mr Greenberg added.