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'UK should have Thanksgiving-style bank holiday', says Chief Rabbi

Ephraim Mirvis also issued a warning that over-promotion of British values could cause divisions in society

December 6, 2017 15:49
Chief Rabbi Mirvis gives evidence to the Lords select committee alongside Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster (Photo: Parliamentlive.tv)
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The Chief Rabbi has called on the government to introduce an American Thanksgiving-style bank holiday to celebrate “Britishness” at the same time as warning that over-promotion of British values could cause divisions in society.

Ephraim Mirvis said vigorously espousing “fundamental British values” in an attempt to counter extremism could have the unintended result of causing some sections of society to turn on others, including people from different religious backgrounds.

He said: “In some instances, fundamental values can lead towards fundamentalism, and that would be in the event that they prompt people to adopt an extremist approach, whereby those who are championing fundamental values have no tolerance for the particular values of a particular entity within our society.

“So in the event that – dogmatically – such values are used as a stick with which to beat faith groups, or other particular interest groups, that would be a huge pity and goes against the spirit of what the values are about.”