5th July 2011

Liberal Judaism's chief executive, Rabbi Danny Rich, was among those moved by a stirring speech by Prince Charles at the Board of Deputies' Summer Banquet.

Danny Rich and Laura Lassman represented LJ at the event, where other invitees included dignitaries from all branches of Judaism, MPs and Christian, Muslim and Hindu leaders.

The Prince of Wales was the guest of honour at the Banquet - celebrating the Board of Deputies' 250th anniversary - alongside his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

In his speech, Prince Charles paid tribute to British Jewry's diverse heritage, praising "a deep and vibrant contribution from British Jews to every sphere of British life". He expressed regret that this is not sufficiently known or celebrated by the public at large.

His Royal Highness then paid tribute to Jewish service men and women who risked, or in some cases gave, their lives in defence of our values and liberty.

Prince Charles also spoke of his charitable work with Holocaust survivors in Krakow, Poland, including raising funds to establish a Jewish Community Centre which now coordinates social and religious events for over one thousand people.

The Prince ended his speech by urging that the Jewish community looks "forward to the next quarter of a millennium of the Board of Deputies, let that lesson guide us in all we say and all we do".

The Board of Deputies is a democratically elected and nationally representative body of the British Jewish Community, whose welfare it exists to protect and promote.

*photo courtesy of The Board of Deputies of British Jews