Editorial: For V-J Day, remember Brigadier Orde Wingate
As the community marks 75-years since the end of the Second World War, with victory over Japan, this week we say thank you to those who served
Jewish focus on the horrors of the Second World War spotlights, for very good reason, the European theatre of conflict.
Yet as we prepare to mark this weekend’s 75th anniversary of VJ Day, when Imperial Japan surrendered in 1945 finally to bring the global bloodshed to an end, it is incumbent on us to honour the bravery and sacrifices of British soldiers in the Far East.
One such hero was Brigadier Orde Wingate, a non-Jewish Zionist who fought with great distinction in Burma after training the Haganah in British Mandatory Palestine, the forerunner to the IDF.
As AJEX’s education and outreach officer Paula Kitching writes in this week’s Jewish News: “We proudly commemorate those who served in the Far East, to reflect on their courage and resilience, and to remember the brutality and horror that war can bring.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
