The Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR), founded as the Institute of Jewish Affairs, is a London-based research institute and think tank. It specializes in contemporary Jewish affairs, with a particular focus on Jews in Britain and across Europe. It is responsible for most of the recent data that exist on Jews in Britain, and its major reports include a study of Jews in Britain based on the 2001 UK Census data, and most recently, an analysis of the attitudes of Jews in Britain towards Israel. Its recent think-tank activities have included "Res Publica: The European Common Good," and "New Conceptions of Community." JPR also runs a public education programme, and has hosted lectures from a range of leading international thinkers including Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, James Wolfenson, Professor Jonathan Sarna and Professor Zygmunt Bauman.
The Institute was founded in New York in 1941, under the auspices of the World Jewish Congress and the American Jewish Congress.[1] It moved to London in 1965,[1] and was refounded as the Institute for Jewish Policy Research in February 1996.[2]
It is a registered charity under English law and it exists to provide "policy-related research and analysis for individuals and organizations concerned with the enhancement of contemporary Jewish life."[3] Its Honorary President is Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild,[4] its Chairman is Harold Paisner, and its Executive Director is Jonathan Boyd.
Antony Lerman who specializes in the study of antisemitism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was director of the Institute from 2006 to early 2009.