One hundred and seven years after it was signed, three direct descendants of key figures involved in the creation of the Balfour Declaration will be coming together for the first time for a public conversation.
Lord Roderick Balfour, great-grandson of Lord Balfour, author of the famous 1917 letter addressed to Lord Rothschild, the Hon. Fred Lloyd George, great-nephew of Prime Minister David Lloyd George, who led the British government at the time of the declaration, and Lord Simon Reading, descendant of Lord Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading, the then-Minister of Justice and a Jewish member of the Cabinet, who played a key role in shaping the declaration, will together hold a discussion in front of an audience.
Joining them will be Rabbi Shlomo Levin and Lord Leslie Turnberg, one of the UK’s foremost experts on the Balfour Declaration.
The discussion will explore the personal family histories behind these historic figures, offering rare insights into the motivations, context, and consequences of the Balfour Declaration, according to organisers.
The event will also cover contemporary matters and offer reflections on modern-day attitudes towards Israel, their personal connections to the Jewish State, and the legacy their ancestors left behind.
“This will be a truly unique occasion,” Rabbi Levin said. “To our knowledge, it is the first time these three descendants have come together in conversation. It marks a historic moment and one not to be missed.”
“The Balfour Declaration Revisited: Seen in a New Light” will be taking place on the eve of Yom HaShoah, on April 23, at a north-west London venue. The event is free, but there is a suggested donation of £15.
For info and tickets, please email: melissa@southhampstead.org