On Wednesday 3 April 2024, the Secretary-General was pleased to represent the Central Committee of the Anglican Church at the Great Synagogue in Brussels for a special evening celebrating the friendship between the Jewish community in Belgium and Cardinal Josef De Kezel & Archbishop Luc Terlinden.

The two Roman Catholic leaders were warmly greeted by the President of the Jewish Consistory, Philippe Markiewicz, Grand Rabbi Guigui, the members of the synagogue and invited dignitaries and guests. The speeches were particularly poignant in light of the current conflict between the state of Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as acknowledging the history of anti-semitism in the Roman Catholic and other Christian churches. However, on this evening, the focus was on: friendship, brotherhood, solidarity, democracy and peace among all faiths and convictions in order to strengthen our society and work together for a positive future where everyone can flourish.

Speeches were interspersed with musical pieces which, appropriately enough, can only be described as divine!

Coverage of the event is also available in Flemish and French.