Chief Rabbi hosts interfaith fast-breaking

Chief Rabbi Mirvis hosted guests of all faiths at his home this week to “strengthen the bonds of warmth and friendship” between faith communities.

Britain’s top Orthodox leader and his wife Valerie held a fast-breaking event for Muslims (Iftar), to mark the end of their daily fast during the festival of Ramadan.

The Iftar was held hours before an attack on Muslim worshippers near Finsbury Park mosque, which the Chief Rabbi condemned as “a painful illustration of why we must never allow hatred to breed hatred.”

Hosting guests including Lord Levy and Sir Trevor Pears, MP Tulip Siddiq and Sheikh Khalifa Ezza of London Central Mosque, Chief Rabbi Mirvis and his wife Valerie hosted the event to help improve relations between communities.

Speaking to Jewish News, he said: “Bearing in mind the devastation that hatred and division can cause, recent events in the UK have shown how crucially important it is for us to strengthen the bonds of warmth and friendship between communities and faiths. In this very spirit, Valerie and I were delighted to host an Iftar this week. The guests were all determined to emulate the words of the late Jo Cox MP, that there is far more which unites us than that which divides us. It was truly an unforgettable occasion.”