Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has wished the Jewish community a “joyous” Chanukah in a video message put out on social media.
Sir Keir, whose lawyer wife Victoria Alexander is Jewish, also tweeted: “As we mark this Chanukah, I offer my warmest wishes to all Jewish communities across the UK.
“May the Festival of Lights bring peace and good health to all. Chanukah Sameach.”
In an accompanying video message, shot at the South Hampstead Synagogue in London, Sir Keir said: “Chanukah is a special festival and I know how much everyone looks forward to the eight days of celebration.“It is a time of joy of family and of community.”
He said the values of the Maccabees are “just as important today”. Those values, he said, were also shared by the Labour Party.
As we mark this Chanukah, I offer my warmest wishes to all Jewish communities across the UK.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 18, 2022
May the Festival of Lights bring peace and good health to all. Chanukah Sameach. pic.twitter.com/c8SB3cuGle
He added: “ I continue to be inspired by the Jewish community, it’s many acts of compassion and kindness, it’s service to Britain, and I am delighted to have strengthened my friendships with the community over the last year. Long may that continue.“I wish you a joyous Chanukah.
May the candles of this festival of light shine brightly and bring hope to us all.” Sir Keir revealed in 2020 that he was “brought up Church of England, loosely, and my wife’s family are Jewish, they came out of Poland”.
He and his wife have two children, who he said they were “bringing up to recognise the faith of part of their grandfather's family, and it’s very important”.He added at the time, which was during lockdown: “Just carving out that tradition, that bit of faith on Friday is incredibly important, because we get together and we do Zoom prayers now.”The Starmers belong to London’s Liberal Jewish synagogue in St John’s Wood in London.
