UK Chief Rabbi leads rabbinical mission to Israel

UK Chief Rabbi leads rabbinical mission to Israel

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    This week, the Chief Rabbi took a group of 50 Rabbis on one of the largest ever Rabbinic missions to Israel from the UK. the trip was designed to equip the Rabbis with the means to inspire their communities to build deep ties and an enduring relationship with Israel. 


    The participants had the opportunity to see first-hand and gain a better appreciation of the political, social, economic and religious reality within which Israel survives and thrives. They looked at narratives of faith, political narratives, narratives of a society in flux and narratives of social change.

    Chief Rabbi Mirvis said, "The inextricable link between the Jewish People and the Land of Israel is clear for all to see. It dates back not only to God's covenant with Abraham but, according to our tradition, to the creation of the world."

    The Chief Rabbi continued, "In his opening commentary to the Torah, Rashi brings a Rabbinic tradition stating that the reason the Torah commences with details of creation is to emphasize that as creator of the world, it is in God's gift​​ to determine which lands belong to which people. In this context, Israel is the eternal home and God-given land of the Jewish People."

    Through this visit, the Rabbis gained a better understanding of the complexities of the current situation in Israel.

    The trip presented an opportunity for the Rabbis to develop and grow. They have returned to their communities to enjoy sharing with congregants and the wider British Jewish community reflections on what was a memorable and enlightening experience.

    In a letter to the participants prior to the trip, Ambassador Daniel Taub wrote, "As Israel's Ambassador, I believe that this trip is extraordinarily important. As leaders of the Jewish Community, you not only are the first point of call for individuals who have questions about Israel and its region in these complex times, but you are also for many a model of what it means to have a deep and meaningful relationship with the land and people of Israel."