Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been honoured by the Board of Deputies of British Jews for his unwavering support and friendship, particularly during a period of intense anxiety following the October 7 attacks.
At a heartfelt event held at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground, members of the Jewish community gathered to express their appreciation for Sunak’s leadership and commitment to safeguarding minority communities. In his speech, the former Prime Minister reflected on shared experiences of identity and belonging, saying, “I am so proud and honoured to stand with you tonight. I do know something of what is means to be different from others and even to experience hatred directed towards you and your community because of who you are.
“I know something of what it is to be part of a community which is proud of its heritage but proud of its Britishness too. I know what it is like to be a part of community that integrates with others from all backgrounds in society and makes such an extraordinary contribution to our proud multi-faith multi-ethnic democracy.”
Sunak concluded with a message of gratitude. “Thanks for having me here this evening, showing me your kindness and your warmth. Thanks for all that you do for your communities and your society but above thank you for everything you do for our country.”
Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies, praised Sunak’s efforts to bolster the Jewish community’s security, calling him “a steadfast ally.”
“The warmth, the friendship, the holding of our community at a time when we were really anxious, and the friendship you showed to the State of Israel was deeply appreciated by the community. You bolstered the community’s security to a level that had never been seen previously,” he said, before presenting Sunak with a Chanukiah as a token of appreciation.
The evening also spotlighted the Jews in Cricket exhibition at Lord’s, co-curated by Zaki Cooper and barrister Daniel Lightman KC. Cooper opened the programme with a poignant address. “We are here on this special evening to honour and thank our former PM, Rishi Sunak, for his friendship with the Jewish community,” he said.
Cooper highlighted the exhibition as a labour of love, reflecting on the Jewish community’s multifaceted contributions to cricket, from international players to MCC presidents and even cake-bakers for Test Match Special. “The topic of Jews and cricket may seem a niche one but it has been a gateway to bigger issues of identity, prejudice, integration and belonging.”
He also took the opportunity to mention the British Indian Jewish Association (BIJA), which he co-chairs, celebrating the shared values between the Jewish and Indian communities. He said, “Faith, education, family, community, aspiration, citizenship, respect for the elderly, strong maternal figures and even Brent Cross!”
In a powerful close, Cooper reiterated the significance of Sunak’s support, “A friendship is really tested at times of stress and distress, and you have been there for us at this extremely challenging time.”
