Rabbis pray at Downing Street for 'the hope of a future State of Palestine'

Prayers outside Downing Street

On Saturday night, outside Downing Street, a large group of UK rabbis, including the UK's most senior progressive rabbis, protested the continuation of the war in Gaza. They used the fire, spices and wine of the ritual that ends Shabbat to pray in solidarity with the hostages and those Gazans being starved and suffering from lack of essential aid.

The prayed in English, Arabic and Hebrew with the hope of moving, 'from starvation to fullness, from desperation to hope, from darkness to light, from captivity to freedom.

They proclaimed that war is dangerous for the hostages, dangerous for the future of democracy in Israel and dangerous for the hope of a future State of Palestine.

They invited all religious leaders, from all faiths, to join them in using their moral power and their pulpits to speak out as allies.

Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner is Executive Coach and Rabbi of Bromley Synagogue