Thriving but apprehensive, Britain's Jews mark 350 years for their community
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It was a bittersweet occasion. Britain's Jews are established and thriving.
``Sadly, there is a resurgence of anti-Semitism which we have to fight and deal with,'' said one community leader, Rabbi Abraham Levy. ``But the Jewish people are happy in this country.''
Britain's Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, was joined by Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh leaders at a thanksgiving service at the 300-year-old Bevis Marks Synagogue. Founded in 1701, it is, Levy said, ``probably the only synagogue in Europe which has had uninterrupted Jewish worship for 300 years.''
``The rest were affected by Nazi persecution,'' said Levy, a leader of London's Spanish and Portuguese Jewish congregations. ``The English record is one of which the English can be proud.''
Britain's history is not unblemished, however. There was an established Jewish community shortly after the Norman conquest of 1066, but in 1290 all British Jews were expelled by King Edward I following years of anti-Semitic violence. Jews were banned from Britain until 1656, when republican leader Oliver Cromwell authorized their return.
Today there are about 350,000 Jews in Britain, making up a largely affluent, integrated community. But many are troubled by regular reports of anti-Semitic incidents, and wary of a rapidly growing Muslim community that numbers at least 1.6 million.
Fears have been heightened in recent years by radical preachers such as Abu Hamza al-Masri, convicted earlier this year of inciting followers to kill Jews and other non-Muslims. The far-right British National Party also enjoyed a minor resurgence in last month's local elections in England.
Last month's vote by university and college lecturers to boycott Israeli academics because of the Jewish state's treatment of Palestinians was seen in some quarters as reflecting a knee-jerk anti-Israel stance that borders on anti-Semitism.
Washington Cardinal McCarrick says he will stay busy
WASHINGTON (AP) - Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the outgoing spiritual leader of the Archdiocese of Washington, plans to stay active after retiring this month.
One of the most visible American church leaders is promising to continue speaking out on behalf of the poor, as well on immigration and family issues.
McCarrick was among a group of prominent religious leaders who endorsed a statement protesting any American use of torture as ``morally intolerable.'' The White House has said the U.S. does not condone or practice torture.
McCarrick, 76, also is scheduled to visit Rome at least three times between now and November, as well as Kazakhstan, Argentina, Canada, Montenegro and Moscow.
``I think I said yes to too many things,'' McCarrick told reporters Monday following Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew.
McCarrick will continue to serve on Vatican tribunals that deal with international justice and peace issues, refugee affairs, Christian unity and Latin America.
Pope Benedict XVI accepted McCarrick's letter of resignation May 16 and appointed Pittsburgh Bishop Donald W. Wuerl as Washington's next archbishop. The archdiocese serves 560,000 Catholics in the District of Columbia and five Maryland counties.
McCarrick will celebrate his final Mass as head of the archdiocese Sunday at St. Matthew's. Wuerl will be installed at a ceremony at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on June 22 .
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