Ephraim Mirvis
South African rabbi
Ephraim Mirvis (born 7 September 1956) is an Orthodox rabbi who serves as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth.
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Quotes
edit- I grew up in South Africa, so believe me when I say: Israel is not an apartheid state ...
The difference between the two countries could scarcely be more stark. Under apartheid, a legal structure of racial hierarchy governed all aspects of life. Black South Africans were denied the vote. They were required by law to live, work, study, travel, enjoy leisure activities, receive medical treatment and even go to the lavatory separately from those with a different colour of skin. Interracial relationships and marriages were illegal. It was subjugation in its rawest form.
Contrast that with Israel, a country whose Arab, Druze, Bedouin, Ethiopian, Russian, Baha’i, Armenian and other citizens have equal status under the law. Anyone who truly understands what apartheid was cannot possibly look around Israel today and honestly claim there is any kind of parity.- "I grew up in South Africa, so believe me when I say: Israel is not an apartheid state", New Statesman (24 February 2016, updated 2 September 2021)
- Convention dictates that the Chief Rabbi stays well away from party politics — and rightly so. However, challenging racism is not a matter of politics, it goes well beyond that. Wherever there is evidence of it, including in any of our political parties, it must be swiftly rooted out. Hateful prejudice is always wrong, whoever the perpetrator, whoever the victim.
- How far is too far? How complicit in prejudice would a leader of Her Majesty’s opposition have to be to be considered unfit for office? Would associations with those who have incited hatred against Jews be enough? Would describing as “friends” those who endorse the murder of Jews be enough? It seems not.
- "What will become of Jews in Britain if Labour forms the next government?", The Times (25 November 2019).
- Then leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, referred to Hamas and Hezbollah as "friends" in a 2009 speech. See Antisemitism in the UK Labour Party.
