Baroness Merron says coronation role ‘an honour beyond anything I could ever imagined’
Ex-Board of Deputies chief executive will be the representative of Judaism as four non-Christian faiths are marked in a ceremony showing King Charles commitment to Britain's ‘community of communities’
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Former Board of Deputies chief executive Baroness Merron has said it will be “an honour beyond anything I could ever imagined” to formally represent one of four non-Christian faiths in the ceremony to crown King Charles III.
Baroness Merron will be carrying one of the coronation robes to the King as the representative of Judaism in Saturday’s ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
One of four peers who will for the first time represent non-Christian faiths at a coronation, Labour life peer Merron told Jewish News:”This is an honour beyond anything I could ever have imagined. I feel humbled to be making history in a Coronation ceremony that will validate Britain as a ‘community of communities’.
“In his Coronation, HRH King Charles III will demonstrate his commitment to protect the space for faith and its practise through religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs.
“Through my part in this, I hope to do the Jewish community proud.”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis will also play a significant role in the ceremony for his good friend Charles.
At the end of the coronation service, there will be a procession out of the Abbey. Mirvis will walk with eight faith leaders in front of Charles and Camilla.
Mirvis explained:”We will stand in a line, the king will come in his full regalia and in his historic 16th-century crown, which is only worn at coronations, and he will stand in front of us. We will give him a blessing in unionism, a pair of blessings.”
In a move designed not to put Mirvis in a compromising position, with the service taking place on Shabbat, there will be no microphones used in the service.
While Orthodox Halacha forbids Jews to enter a church because it is considered a house of “idol worship” the teachings around “mishum eiva” [on account of hatred) are used to allow the Chief Rabbi to accept invitations from the Royal Family.
Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl has also been invited to the coronation.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
