Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, was present this week at a ceremony in Middlesex University's Ricketts Quadrangle to confer the Freedom of the Borough of Barnet on the Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis.
Also attending the ceremony were Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green and Matthew Offord, MP for Hendon.
Speeches were made by Cllr Richard Cornelius, Leader of Barnet Council, and Cllr Eva Greenspan, who had nominated the Chief Rabbi for the honour after he acted as her chaplain while she was Mayor of Barnet. They and others gave glowing tributes to Rabbi Mervis.
Speaking after the event, Theresa Villiers said: “I am delighted that the Chief Rabbi has been awarded Barnet’s highest honour. Chief Rabbi Mirvis is only the 21st Freeman of Barnet. This recognition reflects the importance of the Jewish community here in the Borough, as well as Rabbi Mirvis' longstanding relationship with Barnet."
"In his speech, the Chief Rabbi spoke with great eloquence about the importance of education, as founder of the Kinloss Learning Centre at the Finchley United Synagogue, and about Barnet’s rich interfaith history. He also spoke with huge warmth about the support the Jewish community receives from Barnet Council."
"I felt very honoured to have been present at such a positive and heart warming occasion, which can only serve to continue to strengthen and promote Barnet’s links with the Jewish community.”
“With the publication of Community Security Trust figures showing such a worrying increase in anti-Semitic incidents, it is important that we have events like this to show active support and solidarity with the Jewish community, as a way to demonstrate how strongly we back the efforts the police and the Government are making to combat all forms of anti-Semitism.”