News
Jewish political figures praise the Queen for her expertise and her kindness
MPs and peers from across the political spectrum have delivered a series of heartfelt tributes to Her Majesty
June 1, 2022 09:26
MPs and peers from across the political spectrum have delivered a series of heartfelt tributes to Her Majesty
June 1, 2022 09:26Jewish MPs and peers from across the political spectrum have delivered a series of heartfelt tributes to Her Majesty for her expertise, kindness and as a virtual “Jewish grandmother”.
Among those praising the Queen’s grasp of international affairs was Labour’s Lord Levy.
The special envoy to the Middle East under Tony Blair recalled a charity lunch when he sat next to Her Majesty for well over an hour.
He told the JC: “I still have a picture of us together taken on that day in pride of place on my desk.
"We had the most amazing conversation about my work as an envoy. She revealed she had an unbelievable depth of knowledge about the diplomatic peace process and the various heads of state who I had been meeting, and she asked me engaged, informed questions about them.
Robert Halfon MP
“It was a very special honour to be appointed a life peer by her in 1997, and I am proud to have served ever since as a member of the House of Lords.”
Others also had warm words for Her Majesty’s kindness and service to all communities.
Distinguished lawyer and crossbench peer Lord Pannick QC told the JC: “Her Majesty has inspired, shown great interest in and received the devotion of the Jewish community.
“There is no greater tribute than to say she could be a Jewish grandmother or great-grandmother.”
Tory MP Robert Halfon, a former director of Conservative Friends of Israel, recalled how as a boy attending Shabbat services at Norrice Lea synagogue in London’s Hampstead Garden Suburb he noticed that the one prayer in the siddur to be written and spoken in English, rather than Hebrew, was that for the Queen.
He said: “The Queen asks the Lord to deal kindly and fairly with all Israel and that is what she has done throughout her reign – as she has every minority group.
“And we as Jews keep and celebrate our culture, but we are loyal subjects of the Queen.
“To me, the Queen is the mother of the nation, and I’m proud that in our religion we honour her with this prayer every Shabbat.”
Margaret Hodge
