Some Cardiff Jews boycotted the city’s Holocaust commemoration because it was held in a cathedral.

Traditionally, the Welsh Government and Cardiff City Council have held their HMD ceremony at City Hall. But this year, City Hall had already accepted a booking for January 27 from the British Obesity Metabolic Surgery Society, so the organisers instead arranged for it to be held at Llandaff Cathedral.

Cardiff United Synagogue’s Rabbi Michoel Rose said “prior commitments” had precluded his attendance. But he added: “Some people will feel that it should be at a more neutral location, reflecting the non-denominational nature of the event.
“If it were at City Hall in future years, I might attend.”

Cardiff Jewish Representative Council chairman Stanley Soffa believed the venue was inappropriate given that “one of the groups we’re commemorating is the Jews. A number of people in the Jewish community would not go into a church for a service because there’s a religious aspect to it.”

Although Board of Deputies vice-president and its Cardiff United Synagogue representative Sheila Gewolb was at the ceremony, she appreciated “the sensitivities of holding an event such as this in a Christian place of worship. I hope that the organisers will choose a civic venue next year where everyone can feel comfortable.”

In a statement, the organisers pointed out that the cathedral was the only venue “of sufficient size to accommodate the numbers normally attending. The intention is to revert to City Hall as a venue for the 2017 commemoration.”