Buckingham Palace writes to the United Synagogue for its 150th anniversary

Buckingham Palace has written to the United Synagogue to congratulate it on its 150th anniversary, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.

This comes as the Orthodox movement commemorates an act of parliament signed in 1870 which brought it into existence.

A letter from the monarch’s private secretary says: “The Queen has asked me to convey her warm thanks for your message of loyal greetings sent on behalf of the United Synagogue on the occasion of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of its establishment in 1870.”

Her Majesty was pleased to be reminded of her attendance with The Duke of Edinburgh at your Centenary Dinner”, her office wrote earlier in the year.

Addressed to the movement’s president Michael Goldstein, the letter continues, “the Queen sends her best wishes to all concerned for a most successful and enjoyable year celebrating the significant milestone in the history of the United Synagogue.”

The United Synagogue was formed by five synagogues, through the vision of Lionel Louis Cohen and Chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler. The Jewish United Synagogues Act of 1870 was the result. It is still the only Jewish religious body established by an act of secular legislature.

Michael Goldstein said: “We were thrilled that Her Majesty the Queen took time out of her busy schedule to write to the United Synagogue on the occasion of our 150^th anniversary.”

At the heart of our communities is a commitment to both living as proud Jews and caring for others around us. To me, this is what it means to be British and Jewish in twenty-first century Britain.”

We wish Her Majesty many more years of good health and, as we say in the Prayer for the Royal Family, “May the Supreme King of kings in His mercy, preserve the Queen in life, guard her and deliver her from all trouble and sorrow.”

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