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Having recently been elected as the President of the Jersey Jewish Congregation, I wanted to acknowledge the importance of Interfaith relations on our beautiful island.
As many of us will be gathering with family and friends this week, it is important to remember that not all on the island share the same beliefs.
With dialogue and awareness of the differences, and of course the similarities, we can all move towards a better understanding of each other’s points of view.
This year against the background of conflict in so many parts of the world it is even more important that we find the common ground and continue to look after each other in the knowledge that diversity is what makes living together in this day and age so very rewarding.
In 2016 Sajid Javid, who was at that time the Communities Secretary, talked to a conference on interfaith about the need for people of all faiths to work together. Much of what he said has even more importance today.
He ended by quoting Gandalf from the film of The Hobbit. In it, a wise old man says: “Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay.”
Especially here in such a small community, surely we can come together and stand up to intolerance wherever we see it.
I would like to wish everyone reading this message the happiest of times with family and friends over the Christmas period and let us all hope that the New Year brings a time of peace and health and happiness for us all.
Martha Bernstein
You can read previous seasonal greetings from Jersey's Jewish Community by clicking each of the dates: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.
