OPINION: She was our comfort and reassurance in an ever-changing world
Claudia Mendoza and Michelle Janes, co-chief executives of the Jewish Leadership Council, reflect on how the late Queen symbolised our nation's very essence throughout most of our lifetimes.
The passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, has filled many across this nation and the globe with great sadness. Her extraordinary 70-year reign saw 15 prime ministers, war, economic upheaval, a global pandemic, personal and national loss.
In war or in peacetime, in sickness or in health, in times of stability or turmoil, her duty, resilience, and commitment embodied her time on the throne. In an ever-changing world, her constancy offered reassurance and comfort. Her passing represents an end of an era.
Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about her role of Head of State was the demand that her opinions remain unknown. Seven decades of no opinions achieved with aplomb.
We often, however, caught glimpses of her personality – her kindness when she visited the survivors of Grenfell Tower; her passion when she watched her horses racing; her humour when she charmed us all by joining Paddington Bear for tea to kick off her Platinum Jubilee celebrations. We are thankful that we were able to come together to celebrate the Queen’s service to our country during the Jubilee earlier this year – that she was able to witness this outpouring of affection from the country she so diligently served was, as many have remarked, a happy goodbye.
We often caught glimpses of her personality – her kindness when she visited the survivors of Grenfell Tower; her passion when she watched her horses racing; her humour when she charmed us all by joining Paddington Bear for tea to kick off her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
A hugely important aspect of the Queen’s leadership for the Jewish community was the Queen’s faith and her respect for all faiths. She was a defender of the Jewish community made us feel welcome under her sovereignty. She was a patron for many charities, but her role as patron for our member organisation, Norwood, illustrates her dedication to some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
We talk about the sacrifice of the Queen but in truth, nobody can know how much she sacrificed during her time on the throne because above all, she was unfailingly disciplined and stoic. When the Duke of Edinburgh, her husband and confidant died at a time when the country was enduring the very harshest of Covid measures, the rules did not bend for her.
The image of her sitting alone in Westminster Abbey during his funeral is one of the many images we will recall when we think of her leadership. Indeed, during a very dark hour, when many of us faced unprecedented challenges and upheaval, she took to the airwaves to offer solace. Her words were both comforting and poignant saying “we should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again”.
Doubtlessly, these words will offer much comfort to those of us grieving the loss of an extraordinary woman.
There is so much that symbolises this great nation and the leadership we have witnessed in the Queen is one of them. A wife, a mother, a monarch, our Queen – Queen Elizabeth II, will be missed. May her memory be a blessing. Long live the King.
• Claudia Mendoza and Michelle Janes are co-chief executives of the Jewish Leadership Council
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