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An Evening with Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg

A Lecture and Discussion

19 September 2011
London

The Institute was pleased to host an evening with Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, comprising a short but moving lecture by Rabbi Wittenberg about his recent modern-day pilgrimage across Europe and  a  thoughtful group discussion about the experience of religious minorities throughout Europe today, with a particular focus on inter-faith dialogue. 

In October 2010 Rabbi Wittenberg embarked on a modern-day pilgrimage inspired by his family’s long rabbinical tradition in Germany and Eastern Europe. He journeyed to his grandfather’s synagogue in Frankfurt, which was largely destroyed during the devastation of Kristallnacht. On that night, the synagogue’s  Ner Tamid- the eternal light which hangs above the ark- survived the destruction. The local Jewish community took this as a sign and Rabbi Wittenberg resolved to light a flame there to bring back to his own synagogue, to symbolise deep family ties through a terrifying period of history.  He saw this light as a symbol representing hope even in the depth of darkness.  

Jonathan Wittenberg is the Rabbi of the New North London Synagogue and in 2008 was appointed Senior Rabbi of the Masorti Movement. He is the author of several books including his latest The Silence of Dark Water: An Inner Journey and a book for children entitled Shmendrick and the Croc. Rabbi Wittenberg has also been deeply involved in pastoral and chaplaincy work at the North London Hospice and Great Ormond Street Hospital. He is a strong advocate of interfaith dialogue, striving to promote cooperation and partnership between different faiths.