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News 

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z’’l

11/9/2020

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It is with huge sadness and a deep sense of loss that we at the Commonwealth Jewish Council heard the news of the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks on Shabbat 7th November 2020 after a brief and savage illness.

Jonathan Sacks had been Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013. Throughout this period and after, he conducted a continuous programme of visiting communities large and small throughout the UK as well as making significant and long remembered visits to Australia, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong and other countries of the Commonwealth and, of course, regularly speaking and teaching in the USA and Israel. There can hardly be a thoughtful Jew in the world, of any denomination or none who has not heard one of his talks, followed one of his podcasts, read one of his posts or studied one of his books. Further, his masterful commentaries on the siddur (prayerbook), weekly Torah readings (in Covenant and Conversation) and festival prayers breathed new life into well-worn prayers and texts, casting a scintillating fresh insight into the central texts and teachings of the Jews.

But Sacks was a Professor as well as a rabbi. He communicated far beyond the Jewish world. His books were considered valuable and uplifting by the wider public and leading world figures. Indeed, Prince Charles, in a lovely turn on Isaiah’s expression of the mission of the Jews, called Sacks a ’light unto this nation’ in his comments at Lord Sacks’s retirement from his role as Chief Rabbi.

It is no exaggeration to say that few rabbis have ever done more to help the ordinary Jew make sense of the challenging realities of the current world through the rich resource of Jewish teaching. In that, his closest parallel is Maimonides. It is no coincidence that these two both shared a fascination for how philosophy can clarify and sharpen one’s view. Both knew that Jewish teaching had much to say of value in the world’s conversations and both were unflinchingly confident in their mission – and their ability - to share all they could both with their fellow rabbis, but perhaps more importantly, with the ordinary Jew.

We mourn his loss and urge all readers of this to not let his going pass without note. If you wish to memorialise Rabbi Sacks and mark his passing in a fitting way, read something he’s written. If you do, I’m fairly sure you will want to read more – and that will be his legacy, and the one he would have wanted.
​
Clive Lawton
CEO – CJC
8th November 2020
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The World's Biggest Sukkah Hop

10/7/2020

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On Wednesday 7 October CJC together with the United Synagogue, JAFI and the Beverly Hills Syngaogue partnered up to produce the world's biggest 'Sukkah Hop'.  We took a virtual trip around the world to a host of communities across five continents and explored the unique cultures, Succot customs and traditions of our global Jewish community.  Inlcuding special messages from the President of Israel, Issac Herzog - Chair of Jewish Agency for Israel and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.
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Inaugural meeting of the Inter-Religious Commonwealth Youth Alliance

10/6/2020

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On Tuesday 6th October, CJC held the inaugural meeting of the Inter-Religious Commonwealth Youth Alliance (IRCYA) hosting young people from more than half of all Commonwealth countries and from a variety of religions to work together on a range of issues identified by the young people themselves as pressing and commanding the attention of today's young was utterly inspiring.  
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Jews worldwide cooperate to tackle climate change

10/5/2020

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We are delighted to share with you the recent Jerusalem Report, featuring an article focusing on our work and our campaign efforts on ‘Small Islands Big Challenges’.
 Neville Teller reports on  ‘Jews worldwide cooperate to tackle climate change’.
Please find the article on pages 16 and 17 of the Report. 
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Rosh Hashana Message from our CEO, Clive Lawton

9/14/2020

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The Commonewealth Jewish Council welcomes FCO Minister Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon to a meeting with our diplomacy advisory group.

7/29/2020

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A special video message from HRH The Prince of Wales

6/29/2020

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Inspiring video message from future head of the Commonwealth, the Prince of Wales about the contribution of religious communities, for Faith in the Commonwealth online panel.
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Faith in the Commonwealth online panel

6/29/2020

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On Monday 29th June, the Commonwealth Jewish Council held a “Faith in the Commonwealth” multi-faith webinar featuring a video message from HRH The Prince of Wales and contributions from religious leaders.
Six religious leaders, spanning five different traditions, spoke at the webinar, including the Archbishop of Kigali Mgr. Antoine Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali (Roman Catholic), Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Jewish) and the Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally (Anglican). Other speakers were Dr Chinmay Pandya (Hindu), Dr Jhutti-Johal (Sikh) and Professor Ebrahim Moosa (Muslim). In their contributions, they discussed the role religions play in strengthening society around the Commonwealth. 
The webinar was chaired by Dr Joanna Newman, Chief Executive of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and advisor to the Commonwealth Jewish Council.

Click here for full webinar.

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Faith in the Commonwealth Online Panel

6/17/2020

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We are looking forward to hosting an online panel on  'Faith in the Commonwealth ' on Monday 29th June at 12 pm UK time - our panel will be exploring the role religions play in strengthening society around the Commonwealth. 
Panellists are:
  • Mgr. Antoine Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali - Rwanda
  • Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis - UK
  • Dr Chinmay Pandya, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya University - India
  • The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London - UK
  • Professor Ebrahim Moosa, Mirza Family Professor of Islamic Thought & Muslim Societies, University of Notre Dame - South Africa/ USA
  • Chair - Dr Joanna Newman MBE FRSA, Chief Executive and Secretary General, The Association of Commonwealth Universities, and advisor to the Commonwealth Jewish Council.
 Click here for flyer and to register ​  
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CJC joins video roundtable forum established by The Jewish Agency for Israel and Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs

5/28/2020

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CJC joins the first forum established by The Jewish Agency for Israel and Israel's Ministry of Diaspora to assist Jewish communities around the world and assess the devastating implications COVID-19.
Please check out full article here.



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