Chief Rabbi: Jews know ‘more than any other people what it’s like to have no home’

Journalist and Afghan refugee Yalda Hakim interviewed Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, as supporters of World Jewish Relief (WJR) raised £1m to support its vital work.

The charity helped 115,000 needy people from 21 different countries last year, but anticipates growing demand for its support due to the ongoing pandemic, refugee crisis and climate-related disasters.

During his interview, Chief Rabbi Mirvis told Hakim that Jewish people “know perhaps more than any other people what it means to be on the road, to be homeless, to be looking desperately for a safe haven, for a country that will take us in, looking for work and looking for dignity”.

He added: “There’s a lesson in the pandemic itself. The pandemic doesn’t differentiate between people of different genders, colours, faiths, or race. The pandemic doesn’t recognise borders, and as a result we are all on the same side.

“It is natural that at a time like this we are returning inwards because it’s me, it’s my family, it’s my community, it’s my society, and we do of course need to prioritise the local scene but we will only see an end to this pandemic with a global solution.

When asked by Hakim what World Jewish relief means to the Chief Rabbi, he explained that it means Judaism. “World Jewish Relief is central to our ethos, as a religion, and as a faith.”

During the virtual event, Trustee Hilda Worth said: “As a trustee I am aware that WJR cannot help everyone, everywhere all the time, we have to make hard and difficult choices. Yet, WJR is one of those few charities to be bold in its decision making, to support communities that are invisible or that have either been forgotten about or simply cannot be reached.”

She added: “You have to be inspired by a Jewish organisation that goes out of its way to welcome refugees into our midst.”

Chair of World Jewish Relief Maurice Helfgott opined: “in the 12 short months since I’ve had the privilege of serving as chair I’ve seen up close and personal the extraordinary capacity and professionalism and real impact at every level of this very fine organisation.”

Helfgott spoke about his recent trip to Turkey supporting Uyghur refugees, fleeing persecution by China.

Reflecting on this trip he said: “back in the 1930s and 40s WJR helped refugees like my dad because they were Jewish. Today at WJR we help refugees because we are Jewish.”

Violinist and composer Maxim Vestngerov and former UK poetry slam champion Adam Kammerling also performed at the event , which was attended by 800 people.