In a video message on Friday, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove hailed the hailed the Jewish community as “a light shining in this darkness” and wished the community a Happy Passover.
The message was delivered for Mizrachi UK and the United Synagogue’s joint Shabbaton @ Home initiative.
Mr Gove paid tribute to “those members of the UK Jewish community who are serving on the frontline in our NHS and doing so much to help us in the response to this virus”.
He applauded the concept of the Shabbaton at a time when synagogues and other communal building are closed due to social distancing restrictions, stating that communal leaders have shown that it is possible to still gather in our own homes to celebrate Shabbat while being ‘’linked together in a way that celebrates the resiliance and solidarity of us all”.
Mr Gove added: “I want to applaud this initiative … Chief Rabbi [Ephraim Mirvis] and everyone else involved”.
He emphasised: “The Jewish community is a light shining in this darkness, and I wanted to thank you all for the solidarity that you’ve shown and the values that your community exemplify”.
Watch the full video message here.
