Excited crowds packed behind steel barriers in Winchester today to witness the unveiling of a statue of medieval England’s most prominent Jewish woman, Licoricia.
The chief rabbi attended a ceremony in Winchester where a statue of Medieval England's "most prominent Jewish woman" was unveiled.
— The Jewish Chronicle (@JewishChron) February 10, 2022
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Prince Charles had been set to attend but was forced to withdraw from the event after testing positive for Covid-19.
In a statement read aloud at the event, the Prince of Wales said he was “desperately disappointed” not to be there.
Addressing the event, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis spoke of the “sustained horrific persecution of Jews in this country leading ultimately to the expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290.”
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Chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis addresses the audience at the unveiling of the statue of Licoricia in Winchester
He added: “We recall within those exceptionally trying times there was an extraordinary lady committed to her faith who was determined to raise her family, built a successful enterprise and give a contribution of inestimable value to her country.”
Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist community leaders also came out to show their support for the project.
Licoricia, whose name translates to “sweet roots”, is depicted with her youngest son, Asser, who is shown holding a dreidel.
Engraved on one side of the statue - erected in Jewry Street, where she once lived - are the words “Love thy neighbour as thyself” from Leviticus, in English and Hebrew.
Licoricia rose to prominence running a thriving moneylending business at a time when Jews faced severe restrictions on their activities and she went on to rub shoulders with King Henry III and other illustrious clients.
But widowed twice, jailed several times and later stabbed to death in a mysterious attack in 1277, she also had a tragic life.
Speaking to the JC, acclaimed historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, a patron of the Licoricia of Winchester Statue Appeal, said: “She has real resonance for today. She was a woman in a man’s world, an ethnic minority at a time of great racism and prejudice and persecution.
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Klezmer musicians performing at the reception in Winchester Great Hall.
“Also she was a very successful person. She must have been a great character. She was also an outsider in a time ruled by aristocrats and kings so on so many levels she’s got real resonance especially since there’s a tendency now to deny antisemitism to deny there was racism against Jewish people and the fact of the matter is she proves that. She also proves how much a Jewish person, an outsider the role they can play in English society.”
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The statue of Licoricia on display in Winchester, created by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley
The statue was designed by acclaimed sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, whose portraits of the Queen and other royals have appeared on coins.
“It’s really brought her to the forefront. She has a meaning and a purpose today and I think it’s great to be able to put a symbol there for people to connect with, particularly for women,” he told the JC.
Mr Rank-Broadley revealed he modelled Licoricia and Asser on his Jewish daughter and grandson.
“My daughter is very imposing. She’s very tall and I wanted to try and give Licoricia that heroic sort of look because I think she was a heroine of her time,” he added.
