King Charles was coronated on 5th May? True or false; or just bad grammar?
Anyway, on 6th May we held our own very successful coronation celebration tea party in the garden at Earlham Rd. As well as members and friends, we also welcomed the Bishop of Norwich, Rt. Rev.Graham Usher, Baroness Cox, the Faiths Minister, together with Bishop David Gillett the Chairman and fellow members of the local branch of the Council for Christians and Jews. They were delighted to share the opportunity of a sunny afternoon to present and plant a hazel sapling as a token of friendship between the Jewish and Christian communities in the city.
We were also pleased to welcome a number of our nearest neighbours, residents at Royal Arch Court, who were able to stroll around from next door and see and find out a bit more about their near neighbours behind the big wall! We had a very appreciative letter of thanks from them and it was a great example of what these nationally encouraged community events can achieve in building community relations.
It was a resounding success, with wonderful and some very colourful cakes and other festive goodies, and lashings of tea (more grammar-why always “lashings”?). Thanks as ever are due to those who put in the hours to help with the organisation, the food and all the clearing up.
That event took place just a few weeks after the news of the Lord Mayor’s apology to the Jewish Community for the 12th Century William of Norwich blood libel. Now just a month or so after that tea party celebration of friendship between Christian and Jews, there is breaking news of how Norwich may in future years become a national and international centre for academic historical study and heightening of public awareness and understanding of antisemitic issues often taken as originating in this local 12th century fabrication. The attached press release about Jurnet’s House gives more information about what could in future years add a whole new dimension and flavour to being part of the vibrant 21st Century Jewish community in that same city.