Jewish organisations issued post-Shabbat wishes for a full recovery, to the Princess of Wales following her revelation that she is receiving preventative treatment for cancer.
The princess disclosed details of her health in a video message late on Friday afternoon.
In a short statement posted on X/Twitter on Saturday evening as congregations prepared for the reading of the Megillah on Purim, the Board of Deputies extended “its best wishes for a Refuah Sheleimah - a full and speedy recovery - to the Princess of Wales. Our thoughts are with her and the Royal Family.”
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis also posted: “Now that Shabbat has concluded, I join people throughout the UK and across the globe in expressing my sadness in learning that the Princess of Wales is battling cancer and I extend heartfelt wishes to her for a ‘refuah shelema’ – a swift and complete recovery.”
The Jewish Leadership Council wished her “continued strength and a speedy recovery”.
Now that Shabbat has concluded, I join people throughout the UK and across the globe in expressing my sadness in learning that the Princess of Wales is battling cancer and I extend heartfelt wishes to her for a ‘refuah shelema’ – a swift and complete recovery.
— Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (@chiefrabbi) March 23, 2024
Sending “thoughts and prayers to Catherine, Princess of Wales, and to all the Royal Family”, Progressive Judaism wrote: “We know that many of our members, whose own lives and families have been touched by cancer, will appreciate her message of faith and hope and the reminder of how vital being surrounded by community and loved ones is.
“We pray that her complete recovery comes soon and that, in the meantime, she is given the space and time she needs to heal with her family.”
In her video, the Princess said, “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the same time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous.
“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
The chairman of Chai Cancer Care, the Jewish community’s preeminent cancer support organisation, Louise Hager, said: “We are all shocked and saddened to hear the news that Catherine, Princess of Wales has been diagnosed with cancer and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family at this extremely challenging time. We wish her much strength throughout her cancer treatment and send our heartfelt wishes for a full and speedy recovery.”
Chai’s Chief Executive, Lisa Steele, added: “Understandably the Princess and Prince of Wales’ focus has been on supporting their children. Increasingly Chai has been advising parents, with children from as young as three years old, on how best to tell their children about a cancer diagnosis and we have recently started a Parenting Support Group to meet this specific need.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales, then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at the Stutthof Concentration Camp in July 2017, accompanied by survivors Manfred Goldberg BEM and the late Zigi Shipper BEM (Credit: Holocaust Education Trust)
The Holocaust Educational Trust said: “On behalf of our beloved Holocaust survivors and all of us at the Holocaust Educational Trust, we send our love and strength to Her Royal Highness and wish her a quick and full Refuah Shlema. The Princess of Wales has been a devoted supporter of Holocaust education and remembrance and is held with huge affection and respect by survivors of the Holocaust and our community. We look forward to seeing Her Royal Highness very soon and in the meantime, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, her husband The Prince of Wales and their children and all the Royal Family are in our thoughts and prayers.”
Progressive Judaism co-leads Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky said: “Progressive Judaism (The Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism) sends thoughts and prayers to Catherine, Princess of Wales, and to all the Royal Family.
“We know that many of our members, whose own lives and families have been touched by cancer, will appreciate her message of faith and hope and the reminder of how vital being surrounded by community and loved ones is.
“We pray that her complete recovery comes soon and that, in the meantime, she is given the space and time she needs to heal with her family.”
