Become a Member
News

New Home Secretary Sajid Javid addressed Jewish community from pulpit on Shabbat

The former Communities Secretary addressed the congregation after the end of the Torah and hafarah readings.

April 30, 2018 10:13
Sajid Javid, the new Home Secretary, is seen as an ally of the Jewish community (Photo: Creative Commons)
1 min read

Sajid Javid, the new Home Secretary, was in synagogue on Shabbat, speaking at Lauderdale Road, the flagship congregation for the S&P Sephardi Community.

The former Communities Secretary - who was appointed today to succeed Amber Rudd following the row over Home Office targets to deport illegal migrants - addressed the congregation following the Torah and haftarah readings.

He spoke from the pulpit at the shul in Maida Vale - an honour permitted among the mainstream Sephardi community but not generally in Ashkenazi synagogues.

Mr Javid is regarded as a firm friend of the Jewish community, who dismissed boycotts of Israel at a meeting of World Jewish Congress leaders ahead of the celebration of the Balfour centenary last autumn.