Cabinet Minister Michael Gove is expected to pay tribute to British Jews "on the frontline in our NHS’’ during "challenging times’’ in a Friday evening speech delivered for Mizrachi UK and the United Synagogue's joint Shabbaton @ Home initiative.
Mr Gove will address the community at 6pm ahead of a Kabbalat Shabbat service broadcast live on Facebook to deliver his address at 5.50pm this evening as part of the first ever UK Community Shabbaton @ Home event.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis will also lead prayers for the sick before delivering his own address.
It is understood that Mr Gove will praise those doctors, nurses and other NHS support staff from within the community who are "doing so much to help us in the response to this virus.’’
He will also applaud the concept of the Shabbaton at a time when synagogues and other communal building are closed due to social distancing restrictions.
Mr Gove is expected to say that communal leaders have shown that it is possible to still gather in our own homes to celebrate Shabbat while being ‘’linked together in a way that celebrates the resiliance and solidarity of us all."
In a wider message ahead of Passover next week, Mr Gove is also expected to discuss the "vital importance of all communal traditions together".
The JC understands he will speak of British Jewry as "a light shining in this darkness" and express his gratitude for ‘ the solidarity you have shown and values that your community exemplifies".
Prime Minister Boris Johnson had originally been lined up to make a speech but announced earlier on Friday that he was to stay in self-isolation as he still had Covid-19 symptoms.
The Shabbaton’s directors, Rabbi Andrew Shaw, Chief Executive of Mizrachi UK and the United Synagogue’s Rabbi Michael Laitner told the JC: “Our synagogues may be closed, but our communities are very much open. From Glasgow to Golders Green, from Belmont to Broughton Park, we will celebrate Shabbat together.
"Even though we are separated, we will connect together through the wonderful opportunity of a UK Community Shabbaton at Home.
“We thank the Rt Hon Michael Gove for taking time out of his extraordinarily busy day to pay tribute to our Jewish doctors and nurses who have been on the front line of tackling the Coronavirus.
"The principle of saving life is one of Judaism’s core tradition.
"The Torah teaches that regarding mitzvot, commandments, "v'chai bahem", "you must live by them", from which the Talmud learns that in certain circumstances, we have to postpone a mitzvah in order to save lives."
Friday’s Shabbaton begins at 5.30pm with a live concert by Yaakov Shwekey. Following Mr Gove’s speech, the Chief Rabbi will speak at around 6.10pm.
At 6.05pm a Kabbalat Shabbat service from South Hampstead Synagogue will be broadcast – while others may wish to join their shul community’s online for services.
The Shabbaton @ Home event can be viewed here
