On Sunday 7 June, the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, and the Archdeacon of West Ham, the Venerable Mike Power, met with local Rabbis to express their solidarity at a time of rising antisemitism in the UK and around the world.
After the meeting they agreed the following Joint Statement:
We were grateful for the opportunity to meet on Sunday 7 June to discuss the appalling rise in antisemitism in the UK and particularly in the communities we serve in Essex and East London.
We are deeply troubled by the growing number of antisemitic incidents – including occasions where bystanders have not come to the aid of Jewish people under attack.
We stand together in our shared commitment to raise awareness and tackle antisemitism in all its forms
There is an important opportunity to build on relationships that already exist between Christian and Jewish communities in Essex and East London, for example in places such as Woodford and Barkingside.
We recognise the need to deepen these relationships in other parts of Essex and East London, particularly at a time when the conflict in the Middle East is a cause of tension here.
Our hope is that this ongoing work will help strengthen relationships, grounded as they are in our shared conviction that every person is made in the image of God and deserves dignity and respect.
Rabbi Yanky Abrams, Loughton Synagogue
Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford
Rabbi Rafi Goodwin, Chigwell & Hainault United Synagogue
Rabbi Jordan Helfman, Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue
Rabbi Richard Jacobi, East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue
Rabbi Yossi Posen, Epping Chabad
Venerable Michael Power, Archdeacon of West Ham
Rebbetzen Blima Wollenberg, Woodford Forest United Synagogue
Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg, Woodford Forest United Synagogue
Bishop of Chelmsford and Archdeacon of West Ham welcome opportunity to express solidarity
Speaking after the meeting, Bishop Guli said:
“I was grateful for the opportunity to express our solidarity with Jewish communities across Essex and East London. The rise in antisemitism we are witnessing is appalling and deeply troubling, and I was particularly alarmed to hear of incidents within our own diocese — including occasions where bystanders have not come to the aid of Jewish people under attack.
“This meeting gave us an important opportunity to listen, to stand together, and to consider how we might work more closely to raise awareness and tackle antisemitism in all its forms.”
Archdeacon Mike Power, who leads on interfaith relations for the Diocese of Chelmsford, said:
“This was a significant occasion allowing us to build on the strong relationships that already exist between Christians and Jews in Essex and East London, for example in places such as Woodford and Barkingside.
“At the meeting we agreed to issue a joint statement, setting out our commitment to continue to work together in the future.”
The meeting followed two other meetings Bishop Guli held in Parliament the previous week, focused on building relationships with Jewish colleagues and exploring how to foster greater understanding and cooperation. She met with Rabbi Charley Baginsky, co-leader of the Movement for Progressive Judaism, and with Elizabeth Harris-Sawczenko, Vice President of the Council of Christians and Jews and Ambassador for the Alliance for Middle East Peace, along with her colleague Rachael Liss.