In our rapidly changing society, where our collective values, economic and political conditions and even the demographic composition of our country are in constant flux, many people feel unsettled. Amid such uncertainty, people need traditions that anchor us and provide continuity, meaning and familiarity.
In my personal life, Judaism plays this role. I lead a highly Jewish life for many reasons, including faith, being born into it and a sense of community.
But it is also an anchoring presence in my life. Jewish traditions, including Shabbat, festivals, lifecycle events and familiar prayers have shaped my life for more than 45 years. Knowing that my parents, grandparents and generations before them followed these same traditions instils a profound sense of meaning and connection.
These familiar rituals act as a quiet force, grounding me no matter what else is going on in my life or in the greater world.
The royal family fulfils a similar function in British public life, perhaps ironically given the decline of religion on these isles.
No one setting up a state today would integrate a monarchy into the system of government, but the British monarchy boasts a history of 1,000 years. This legacy alone holds inherent value; the monarchy is deeply rooted in the fabric of our nation and its history. And the modern royal family, flawed and human as they may be, are equally rooted in our national life.
Politicians come and go but the royals are still here, attending state dinners and ceremonies, lending support to charitable organisations, shaking hands with the public and marking coronations, jubilees and weddings. Their presence provides a reassuring continuity.
And this is — counter-intuitively — precisely what enables us to weather the rapidly changing aspects of our society. Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose isn’t a lament, it’s a prescription for successful evolution.
The royal family also plays a crucial role in maintaining a shared national identity. They are not mere figureheads, they are British history personified. When we recall the British past, it is often through the lens of the exploits, personalities, failures and successes of our kings and queens. They serve as a compass, guiding us through the story of what it means to be British over the past millennium, irrespective of our religious, ethnic or cultural backgrounds.
Jews should understand this instinctively. We, too, are sustained by the stories of our history, whether that’s the binding of Isaac, the Exodus from Egypt, the trials of exile or the miraculous founding of the state of Israel. These are not mere tales, they are the foundation of our peoplehood. They connect us to our roots, installing a common sense of identity, purpose and pride that resonates through the generations.
Friends and relatives with American backgrounds often ask me how I can support the monarch, why we don’t abandon it in favour of a more progressive system. They find it an anachronism and do not understand why it is necessary or desirable in a modern democracy.
My answer to them is that although it is a Christian institution, there is something about the British royal family that should resonate with anyone involved in Jewish life, and indeed that of a follower of any organised religion.
Whilst we do not worship the royal family, the same profound truths lie at the heart of both: there is value in tradition in an ever-evolving world.
Our shared stories have the power to unite us and connect us to something greater than ourselves.
