Church of England Apologizes for 800 Year-Old anti-Jewish Laws
After 800 years, the Church of England finally apologized for anti-Jewish laws that were passed that eventually led to the expulsion of Jewish people from England for centuries. The service held at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford was attended by Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and a representative of Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to mark the Synod of Oxford, which passed the antisemitic laws in 1222.
It’s never too late to ask for forgiveness. 800 years later, even. The Synod of Oxford banned Jewish people from interacting with Christians, building new synagogues, and Jewish people were even required to wear identifying badges. Jonathan Chaffee, the Archdeacon of Oxford, said that the time had come for Christians to repent of their “shameful actions” and to “reframe positively their relations with the Jewish community.” I know England’s not the first one to apologize. Spain also was offering citizenship to Jewish people all around the world with a Spanish background for their apology to them for the Spanish inquisitions. And this was just a few years ago as well. So I’m sure the Jewish community is very thankful now, even 800 years later, for the Church of England’s apology.
(source: timesofisrael.com)
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