The Queen has extended her best wishes to Britain’s United Synagogue on its 150th anniversary, having been a guest at the US’s centenary reception.
Correspondence released by the US this week includes a reply on behalf of the monarch to the “loyal greetings” relayed by US president Michael Goldstein.
In his letter, Goldstein noted that the US was established by Act of Parliament in 1870 and had grown to represent some 50,000 men, women and children across 60 communities. It was conscious of the need to support those in need beyond the Jewish community.
“Synagogues reach out regularly to support homeless shelters, asylum seekers and vulnerable members of society. To me, this is what it means to be British and Jewish in 21st century Britain.” He congratulated the monarch ahead of her completing the 68th year of her reign this week and wished her more years of good health.
In reply, Andrew Paterson, director of operations at the private secretary’s office at Buckingham Palace, wrote that the Queen had seen Goldstein’s message and conveyed “warm thanks”.
Covering the centenary event at London’s Dorchester Hotel in June 1970, the JC reported that it was the first occasion since the resettlement of Jews in Britain more than 300 years previously that a reigning monarch had been present at a specifically Jewish function. She was presented with a “Jerusalem” Hebrew-English Bible with a cover in silver filigree.
The US is organising a number of events and programmes to mark its special anniversary.
