At the end of an especially hard week for our members and at the start of another that may prove no easier, our Senior Rabbi, Jonathan Wittenberg, has written the following.
Dear Community,
This has been an exceptionally cruel and painful week, with the news of the brutal murder by Hamas of six of the hostages and the outpouring of sorrow and anger over the days of their funerals. Our hearts go out to their families, and to the families of all the remaining hostages, who must be even more anxious for their loved ones than they already were. We pray for the safe return home of all the hostages and an end to this terrible war and all its suffering.
Added to this in Anglo-Jewry has been news of the decision by the Government regarding the sale of certain arms to Israel.
I was asked to attend, at short notice, a briefing by the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, to a number of Jewish leaders following his announcement to Parliament of the Government’s decision to suspend close to 10% of British arms sales to Israel, following a legal investigation. The Foreign Secretary stressed that he had come to his decision with a heavy heart; it was the outcome of a legal process to which he was obliged to respond and did not affect Israel’s self-defence capabilities. It was clear that the decision was not up for current negotiation.
I therefore asked him for his strongest reassurance that he would do everything within his power to secure the release of the more than one hundred hostages remaining in brutal captivity. This was uppermost in all our thoughts, given the extremely painful timing of his announcement of the decision. David Lammy readily gave his assurance, reiterating his commitment to Israel, describing himself as a firm supporter and a liberal Zionist, and stressing his abhorrence of Hamas. He emphasised that he had been deeply moved by his meetings with families of the hostages.
It is not the first occasion a British government has taken such a course of action. Responses across Anglo-Jewry have varied. There is deep concern that, whatever the intention, it may be read as giving succour to Israel’s enemies and a widely shared feeling that the timing on the very day of Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s funeral was exceptionally painful, adding to the feelings of vulnerability and isolation across the community.
These are cruel and challenging days. I pray that our government will follow a just and supportive path towards Israel and work for the safe return home of all the hostages, an end to this dreadful war with all the suffering in Israel and Gaza, and a long-term solution bringing security, dignity and hope to everyone across the Middle East.
Senior Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg
