Representatives from across the community paid tribute to the heroism of those who helped to defeat the Nazis in the Second World War in a service to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day at the historic Bevis Marks Synagogue in London on Sunday.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and the chaplains to the navy, army and air force, the Reverend Canon Michael Parker, the Venerable Andrew Hillier and the Venerable Dr Giles Legood, took part in the ceremony in the candlelit sanctuary, which had remained open for prayer during the War despite the German bombing of the capital.
The Last Post and Reveille were sounded, the National Anthem sung in both Hebrew and English and a wreath laid by the chief executive of Ajex - the Military Association, Fiona Palmer.
Three Jewish veterans, who served in the British forces during the War, all now centurions, were applauded when it was announced they were in attendance.
Rabbi Captain Nir Nadav with Chelsea Pensioner Barry Davey (photo: Stanley Kaye Photography)[Missing Credit]
In the opening address, Senior Rabbi of the S & P Sephardi Community Joseph Dweck, said: “VE Day represents in no uncertain terms the recognition and commemoration of triumph of good over evil.
But though it was taken for granted who was on which side, he said: “We know that at the start of the war there were those in society and not of its fringe who believed that Hitler was the type of man who could be played with and appeased. There were also those who accused Churchill of being a warmonger and an agitator.”
Evil did not prevail, “even as it murdered millions of our ancestors in its attempts”, he said.
But once again, he warned, “a great moral confusion is emerging. Raucous voices on the blogs, podcasts, social media, claim Churchill may very well been the chief villain of the Second World War and just last week, when the likes of Kanye West released a song entitled Heil Hitler, publicised to his over 33 million followers.”
The VE Day commemoration, he said, “means much more now than simply honouring the sacrifice of so many – a sacrifice that was not only for King and country but, in retrospect, the entire global order.
“At this commemoration, let’s again remember that moral clarity is fragile and with our courageous voices and conviction, never cease to fight to uphold and protect it.”
WW2 veterans Henny Franks and Mervy Kersh emerge from VE Day Service at Bevis Marks (photo: Stanley Kaye Photography)[Missing Credit]
Rabbi Nir Nadav, regimental chaplain to 156 Regiment Royal Logistics Corp, said that without the victory of the Allied Forces, “I would not be standing here today. My grandparents were victims of the Holocaust and they survived only because they were saved in different places and at different times…”
Remembering: Ajex chief executive Fiona Palmer and chair Dan Fox at Bevis Marks ( Stanley Kaye Photography)[Missing Credit]
The contribution of two UK Jews in the War were recalled in special tributes: Vera Atkins, who helped to set up the Special Operations Executive and recruited Allied agents for France (who died in 2000 aged 92): and Lieutenant-Commander Alan Tyler, who helped to sink the German battleship the Scharnhorst and who later assisted in the testing of Britain’s first nuclear bomb; he died last year aged 99.
The tributes were given by two members of Jewish school cadets, Cadet Lance Corporal Jake Tash of JFS and Cadet Lance Corporal Melissa Boyd, from JCoSS.
VE Day biscuit handed out after commemoration service[Missing Credit]
Representatives ranged from Kedassia chairman Shlomo Sinitsky to the chief executive of the Reform Movement, Rabbi Josh Levy.
