The new Lady Mayor of the City of London has been honoured at Europe’s oldest synagogue in continuous use – in a historic first.
Dame Susan Langley, who took office last week as the Square Mile’s first ever Lady Mayor, attended a thanksgiving service at Bevis Marks, in the City of London.
It was the first time a non-Jewish Lord Mayor has been honoured in such a way, an occasion Dame Susan said reflected her desire to further strengthen links between the City and its Jewish communities.
Lady Mayor of the City of London Dame Susan Langley said:
“I grew up in parts of east London steeped in Jewish history. At a time when the evil of antisemitism is yet again on the rise, I pledge to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community and others throughout my mayoralty and beyond. There is absolutely no place for discrimination of any kind in our City.”
The thanksgiving service, attended by three former Lord Mayors, featured prayers for the Royal Family and a rendition of the National Anthem in English and Hebrew. Dame Susan received a silver kiddush cup, embossed with the Bevis Marks emblem, as a gift from the Synagogue community.
Dame Susan has been Alderwoman for the City’s Aldgate ward, in which Bevis Mark sits, since 2018. The community’s leader, Rabbi Shalom Morris, received the Freedom of the City of London last week.
Rabbi Shalom Morris said:
“For centuries the City of London has been a safe haven for Jewish people, and the Lady Mayor has always been a great friend to Bevis Marks Synagogue.
“It therefore felt right to reflect our gratitude in this way. We hope this will now become an annual service in the City’s civic calendar.”
The Bevis Marks Heritage Foundation will be opening its new visitor centre early next year, displaying its unique collection to visitors from across the globe.
The project is being delivered with £240,000 funding through the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund, administered by the City of London Corporation with contributions from new developments in the Square Mile.
