Chief Rabbi warns over aggresive promotion of British values
A “DOGMATIC” approach to pursuing British values could lead to fundamentalism and an extreme form of “Britishness”, the Chief Rabbi has warned.
Ephraim Mirvis said vigorously promoting “fundamental British values” in an attempt to prevent extremism could lead some sections of society to turn on others, including people from different religious backgrounds.
He said: “In some instances, fundamental values can lead towards fundamentalism, and that would be in the event that they prompt people to adopt an extremist approach, whereby those who are championing fundamental values have no tolerance for the particular values of a particular entity within our society.
“So in the event that — dogmatically — such values are used as a stick with which to beat faith groups, or other particular interest groups, that would be a huge pity and goes against the spirit of what the values are about.”
The Chief Rabbi made the remarks while giving evidence to a House of Lords committee on citizenship and civil engagement on Wednesday.
Outlining his desire to repair a “newly-divided society”, he advocated greater involvement in initiatives like Shabbat UK, Mitzvah Day and his Ben Azzai social action programme, which he said could help instil responsibility
among the British public. But he also called on the government to do more to back religious life, saying he sensed religion was often “perceived to be part of a problem within our society rather than being appreciated as something of enormous value to our society.
“Those who are religious have roots. Utilising religion responsibly, they are well placed to be outstanding citizens. I often wish there would be a more healthy tone being set from the government.”
The Chief Rabbi proposed using a bank holiday to celebrate “Britishness” and urged the government to introduce such a day as a “civic milestone”.
“We are missing a trick here in Britain — it would be the equivalent of America’s Thanksgiving,” Rabbi Mirvis told the committee.
“We need a day in the year through which we can express that with pride, to concentrate on our British values.”
Writing in today’s JC, the Chief Rabbi also outlined his desire to “end the scourge of modern day slavery” and human trafficking by holding businesses and contractors to account.