Keith Black speech at the Bevis Marks coronation ceremony

Thank you, Rabbi Dweck, for your inspiring remarks. Together, tonight, in this magnificent historic building, our community has celebrated with immense joy the unique moment of welcoming a newly crowned monarch.

We have marked this in a very Jewish and British way. From street parties to Praying for the wellbeing, wisdom and health of King Charles III and Queen Camilla through our own ancient liturgy, we have brought forth rarely used customs and engaged in very traditional ones too.

For my own part, this marks a full circle in my life. In July 1969, on my 10th birthday, I remember with great clarity watching the investiture of the Prince of Wales – I recall the images, the nervous Prince, and the grandeur of the pageantry, and I remember the tremendous sense of pride, an emotion that I felt over the weekend. And this time my pride was magnified by seeing so clearly how this country has evolved over my lifetime.

We of all people understand the importance of tradition, of continuity and of ancient lineage. But We also understand the importance of change, of gentle evolution, of creating tomorrow in the light of today, not simply following an ancient past. And we saw so much of that over the weekend, diversity and inclusivity, pageantry, and pomp yes, but also humility and a breaking down of barriers that is so wonderfully noble. We have witnessed the Royal family change in ways that were unimaginable 50 years ago and no doubt we will see similar change over the next 50.

And we have seen our own community evolve and change too in a myriad of ways often following royal leadership, for instance in our relationship to environmental issues.

Our community has so much respect for the royal family.

Our new Kings grandmother Princess Alice of Greece, of blessed memory, saved Jews during the Holocaust, is recognised as a Righteous amongst the Nations, and is buried in Jerusalem. Honouring victims of the Shoah has been an important cause of his for many many years and he has engaged with the community on countless levels ever since that July day I remember so clearly from my childhood.

Jewish academic Colin Shindler wrote this week that the “constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy has allowed Jews to be different while being loyal.” King Charles’ embrace of our community and our relationship with him and the entire Royal Family is a celebration of that difference and of that loyalty.

It falls on me to say Thank you for joining with us today, thank you to S&P Sephardi Community and Bevis Marks for allowing us to hold this historic ceremony in this home of Anglo-Jewry, thank you to our JLC member, the Board of Deputies of British Jews for partnering with us all today to mark this occasion.

And finally, please join me in saying G-d save the King and the National Anthem.

G-d Save the King.