Jewish 100, looks to the year 2108 and then takes a step back to see how Jewish life arrived at the state it will be in.

At this time, initial research is being undertaken by Jane Cohen and results are set to be delivered early 2009.

“According to initial estimates, there will be 1.7million Jews in the country, a slight decline on the current figures,” said Jane Cohen. “But this is only an estimate, we need to do some real forecasting into the future.”

A budget of £3.8m has been allocated for the work involved.

“It is not just a question of sticking a finger at the wind to make predictions,” Jane Cohen added. “It is about being 100% accurate and with a £3.8m budget, I can make sure it is correct.”

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.”

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.

Mr Gibson, 50, recently celebrated his barmitzvah under the supervision of Rabbi Joe Levine of Hendon in north west London.

“We are delighted that Mel has decided to embrace the Jewish faith,” said Board president Harry Greenberg. “Despite American media trying to imply his is anti-semitic, Mel is a true lover of all Jews and the Jewish faith. He has been undergoing a conversion for the past 24 months and we are delighted to announce he has embrace the faith.”

The Board wishes to express its full support to Mr Gibson as he deals with the current issue of being framed in the United States and is fully supportive of him.

“Mel has said he wishes to move to London and follow other Jewish stars such as Dustin Hoffman and Richard Dreyfuss who now call London for home. London is a warm community for all Jews and Mel will certainly find a welcome here.”

According to the 2005 poll, 8% of Britain’s Jews between the ages of 13 and 35 identified with Goth culture and music.

With 375,000 Jewish Goths in the UK and 120,000 living within four miles of Brentford Synagogue, Rabbi Kent Levin is offering services relevant to the needs of the Goths.

“When I first came to London in the early 80s, I was aware of the Goth music scene and actually in to it myself and indeed I am still. What always stuck me were the huge numbers of Jews involved in it,” Rabbi Levin said. “So when the Board did some research, it made perfect sense to help Goths with their Jewish needs.”

A weekly alternative shabbat service on a Tuesday evening aims to attract a packed audience of 500 into the synagogue with an overflow service taking place at the nearby Brentford Football Club social bar which has capacity for an additional 300 people.

“If we had the shabbat service on Saturday itself, we would be unable to broadcast it,” said Rabbi Levin. “This is about being both alternative and relevant for young people and by having shabbat services on a Tuesday we can do that by broadcasting it and teaming up with the local football team.”

“Offering relevant services is something we have been trying to do for years,” said Rabbi Barry Goldberg of the Alliance of Jewish Rabbis Trade Union. “I commend Rabbi Levin for what he is doing and hope to see other synagogues offer similar services to its local community.”

Since announcing that 3.12% of its country is infected by Bird Flu, the French government has banned all Jews from consuming chicken soup, though non-Jews are still allowed to buy and make it.

“We are appalled that France has reacted this way to the crisis,” said Board president Harry Greenberg. “They are the only country to ban its Jewish citizens from having chicken soup.”

Though other countries have had bird flu, the Board is rather concerned why the French have taken its anti-chicken soup stance against Jews.

“Why chicken soup for Jews and not chicken soup for non-Jews,” Mr Greenberg added. “Could it have anything to do with the fact that chicken soup and Jews go together?”

The Board is in close co-operation with its respective Jewish French colleagues and will be organising a rally to support them in order to get chicken soup back on the menu.

“We will be having a rally on March 26 where 450,000 Jews from across London will gather outside the French embassy,” commented Board communications director Susan Jacobs. “We cannot accept or tolerate denial of our basic eating rights.”

It has also told McDonald’s to take off its menu a bagel that features bacon and if it fails to do so, a boycott of McDonald’s and associated brands (including Coca Cola) that are sold at its restaurants will be started.

In early 2005, The Board was informed of a TV advertising campaign that featured bacon within the bagel. At the time, McDonald’s were notified of the deep concern the Board has of taking such a recognised image eaten by Jews and now associated with a non-kosher product.

McDonald’s did not respond to The Board’s requests and now has even increased its range of non-kosher products going into the bagel.

“While we are not offended by neutral products going into a bagel such as jam or cream cheese, putting pork-sausage or bacon in it is something we cannot accept, that coupled with the recent advertising campaign by McDonald’s shows how much disregard they have for the feelings of the Jewish community,” said Board director of communal services Jacob Bloom.

Within a week of the McDonald’s sausage bagel commercial going on television, The Board had 125 letters as well as 3,400 emails from Jews across the country expressing their concern at seeing a bagel being used in such a way.

“We have already notified McDonald’s of our concern last year, yet one year on and they not only continue with their old product range, but also add a new product that they know will carry on showing total disrespect for the Jewish community and also for the bagel,” said Board president Harry Greenberg.

“We are giving McDonald’s an opportunity now to resolve the matter by removing any pig product from the bagel and if they fail on this occasion, we will start the boycott,” Mr Greenberg added.

Among those who have been honoured are former Conservative leader Michael Howard, Professor Emily Howard and actor Matt Lucas.

“All these Jewish people have one thing in common, they have made a major contribution not to just the work of the Board but also to help the Jewish community,” said Board president Harry Greenberg. “These honours recognise both the well known and the not so well known of the community.”

The Winter awards announced today will be given out at a gala ceremony attended by the Queen on March 23 2006.

The Board’s Honours which are recognised by all sections of the Jewish community were created in 1981 following a meeting between then Board director John Joseph and Queen Elizabeth II. It was then decreed by her majesty that the Jewish community should be allowed to have its Honours during the Queen’s Honours.

Since then, there has been both Winter Honours and Spring Honours.

For Winter 2006, the following Honours are to be given.

Professor Emily Howard - Since 1993, Professor Howard has been head of research at the Jewish Research department of London and Herts University. Her report, “Jews in the Iron Age” which looked at the Jewish contribution to Britain’s Iron Age helped to understand how the first Jews arrived in Britain from Egypt.

Malcolm Wise - Community volunteer, Mr Wise has been a regular helper to the Board funded Jewish Guide Dogs Home. The Jewish Guide Dogs Home helps provide guide dogs to members of the Jewish community where the dogs are specifically trained to deal with part of the Jewish lifestyle which include getting to synagogue. Mr Wise helps to train the dogs and since 1972 has trained over 600.

Matt Lucas - Actor Matt Lucas has risen to popularity with his TV partner David Walliams with the popular BBC TV show Little Britain. Matt himself has been active in the work of the Board as a supporter and hosted the 2004 annual Board dinner which raised £530,000

Michael Howard - The former Conservative leader has been instrumental in supporting the Board and has been a director of it on a number of occasions, both when the Conservative Party were in power and as in opposition. As a Board director, Mr Howard has been on a number of committees and takes a keen interest in the Board’s sports division.

The move comes after 18 years of campaigning by the Board for the British government to recognise that Chanukah is a Jewish festival.

“Given the Xmas is a public holiday in recognition of one of the most famous Jews of all time and indeed Easter is also a holiday in honour of one of the most famous Jews of all time, we feel that Chanukah is not just a festival for Jews but for all and should be part of Britisih society,” said Board president Harry Greenberg.

The Board feels by introducing Chanukah to the masses it can then be experienced by everyone and important issues of going green can also be learnt.

“Chanukah is not just for Jews, it’s for everybody and the message of Chanukah of how strategic planning can help you overcome anything is one that are proud to share,” Mr Greenberg added. “It is about how with just a little bit of something, you can make it last long. I guess you can say, it is a very green and eco friendly festival. How one day worth of oil lasted for eight days is a question everyone asks and today, Jewish scientists are close to discovering how that happened. We hope what we find will help solve the world oil problems.”

As part of National Chanukah Day, the Queen will be lighting a menorah in Buckingham Palace.

Baddiel and Elton are two of the 1300 people who annually try and avoid paying the Board levy to support its work and the Board will now start to highlight those who refuse to pay.

Payments to the Board from Jewish men are expected to start from the age of 13, when in Jewish law they are responsible for their own mitzvahs (deeds) and one mitzvah is to make the annual Board donation.

“When both David and Ben were barmitzvah, they made an agreement in hebrew to pay the fee. For five years after his barmitzvah, David paid and for Ben it was just two years. Despite constant reminders, both of them have failed to continue with payments and therefore we have decided to claim a full claim for all payments. We are not prepared to write this off,” said Board president Harry Greenberg.

Both Baddiel and Elton were prepared to do their barmitzvah and accepted their passage from boy to man and therefore they should accept their full responsibility to make this payment.

Despite constant reminders, both men have ignored the requests to pay or have written back making various excuses.

In the case of David Baddiel, he wrote on 2 March 2003:

“Why are you hounding me? As far as I am aware, I did not agree to this and why didn’t my rabbi translate this piece of my barmitzvah into English? I’m not paying. So sue me and I’ll see you in synagogue about this.”

In the case of Baddiel, he currently owes the Board £3254.32 and in the case of Elton this is £5432.02 (both amounts include interest and reminder notices).

To help support the Board in its collection of fees, it is has recently appointed Edward Jacobs as its chief collection officer. Mr Jacobs, 42 from Bushey, Hertfordshire is a former director of the TV Licensing where he was responsible for collecting overdue payments.

“We are grateful to have Edward join as and to help support the work we do. We are confident that Edward and his team will help increase the money coming into the Board by dealing with those who constantly refuse to pay,” added Board president Harry Greenberg.

Mr Jacobs takes up his new role from December 12 2005.