Ruth Kaufman is a distinguished British Jewish mathematician, Operational Research (OR) expert, and social activist. She was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2016 for her outstanding contributions to the field of Operational Research.
Kaufman has served as the President of the British Operational Research Society and held various senior management roles within UK government departments. Her career is dedicated to applying complex mathematical models to public decision-making to optimize resource allocation and improve social services. As a senior member of Humanists UK, she has long promoted ethical practices based on reason, science, and universal human rights. She is recognized as a pioneer in bringing “hard science” logic to “soft social” governance.
Kaufman’s stance reflects the deep humanitarian tradition within the progressive British Jewish community. She is an active supporter and signatory of Independent Jewish Voices (IJV UK), an organization that advocates for Palestinian rights and calls for an end to the occupation. She has stated: “As humanists and as Jews, the core of our ethics lies in empathy for the suffering of others. When law and justice are absent in the Palestinian territories, it is not just a geopolitical tragedy, but an erosion of human dignity. We must use reason and peaceful means to call for a future built on equality and sovereign dignity.”