Voice of the Jewish News: Let’s thank the heroes of this annus horribilis
After a turbulent 12 months which has seen hundreds die of coronavirus in the community, the last editorial of 2020 pays tribute to those bringing people together
When the Queen addresses the nation tomorrow for the second time this year, she will no doubt reflect on another annus horribilis.
Not just for her and her family, this time, but for the country and the world.
The year 2020 will go down in the history books as one of unprecedented loss – of more than a 1.5 million lives cut short by a rampaging virus (including more than 600 from our community), of businesses facing repeated shutdowns, of human contact even in life’s most painful and joyous moments.
Few things could have fitted this year’s miserable script more aptly than a mutant strain of the virus that forced new restrictions on millions, isolated Britain from her neighbours, closed synagogues and even prevented Christmas gatherings.
As Jews, we know full well how hard it can be to be separated from our loved ones on occasions when families usually gather, such as Pesach and Rosh Hashanah.
But this is also a moment to reflect on the scientific breakthroughs that now provide a path out of this nightmare; few dared to dream that today we’d be publishing stories about Holocaust survivors receiving a vaccine with such high efficacy or that it would soon be rolled out across our care homes.
Crisis has also brought out the best in many: from the carers and healthcare workers who have spent months on the frontline to those who have gone above and beyond to help neighbours and strangers alike.
This will be a festive season without the trimmings, but we shouldn’t forget to count our blessings to live among such heroes.
With their help, and the growing détente spreading across the Middle East that we’ve been so thrilled to cover in recent weeks, let’s hope for a speedy recovery for all those suffering and a healthier, happier and more peaceful 2021.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
