Charles visit ‘cements relatio
IN A room of menorahs, Prince Charles geared up to deliver an historic speech telling the world that light must triumph over darkness.
From this deeply symbolic setting at the Israeli Museum, he went to Yad Vashem where he urged world to ensure that those “lived through this darkness” are treated as a “light unto the nations” and inspire greater tolerance.
Charles’ speech, the central event of his first official visit to the Jewish state, was instantly lauded by Israelis as a high-point of the Auschwitz 75 commemorations. They praised his engagement with the “incomprehensible humanity” of theHolocaust — and his insistence that hatred must be overcome.
Just because “an evil cannot be described, does not mean that it cannot be defeated,” Charles said.
In the more intimate setting of the menorah room, the impassioned orator took the role of tender companion. He sat with Marta Wise, who went to Auschwitz as a ten-year-old, and George Shefi, who went to England on Kinder-transport before the war. He looked at Mrs Wise intently as she recounted having Josef Mengele run experiments on her.
“By a miracle we survived,” she said. “It was hell on earth. Mengele was a particular devil. Our blood was taken. Jewish blood was no good but it was good enough to take for the German army. He used to inject us with things. We had no idea what they were. You could be in absolute agony. He was a monster. There is no other way to describe him.”
After the conversation ended, the museum’s chairman Isaac Molho presented Charles with a replica of an 18th century chanukiah. The display of Chanukah artefacts — commemorating an ancient victory of light over darkness —
THE PRINCE of Wales used a speech during his first official visit to the West Bank that it “breaks my heart” that the Palestinians face continued hardship in the territory.
Charles spoke after a symbolic walk with Muslim and Christian leaders through the centre of Bethlehem, where he visited the Church of the Nativity, which is built on the site where Jesus is said to have been born.
Clarence House said it was the first time that Bethlehem’s three main Christian churches collectively held a service to celebrate the contribution of Christian communities across the Holy Land and wider Middle East.
Left: Prince Charles with survivors George Shefi and Marta Wise during a reception at the Israel museum in Jerusalem. Above: At the British Ambassador’s residence for a reception.
was carefully chosen as the place where Charles would meet survivors.
As Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis watched the encounter, he was visibly moved.
“I have no clue why this room was chosen but the fact it was has enormous symbolism,” Rabbi Mirvis said, suggesting
The prince then addressed an audience of Palestinian refugees and civic leaders in the town at Casa Nova, a nearby Franciscan pilgrim house.
He said: “I have endeavoured to build bridges between different religions so that we might learn from each other and be stronger together as a result.
“It breaks my heart therefore that we should continue to see so much suffering and division.
“No-one arriving in Bethlehem today could miss the signs of continued hardship and the situation you face.
“It is my dearest wish that the future will bring freedom, justice and equality to all Palestinians, enabling you to thrive and to prosper.”
Later in the afternoon the prince met that the blessing recited over the menorah, praising miracles “in those days and now,” connects the Chanukah story, survivor stories, and the success of modern Israel. He continued, quoting the blessing in Hebrew: “‘Bayamim hahem bazman haze.’ Seeing survivors here and in the State of Israel, which is a miracle, is significant.”
Charles himself cited Jewish tradition in trying to give expression to the themes of the day. He drew from the Bible and the Talmud during his Yad Vashem speech, saying that “we must never forget that every human being is betselem Elokim, ‘in the image of God’, and even a single human life is ke-olam malei, ‘like an entire universe.’”
Charles also connected the Holocaust and the State of Israel, saying it is significant that the Auschwitz anniversary was being marked “where so many of those who survived the Holocaust sought and found refuge and built a new future for themselves and this country.”
The Prince made his regard for survivors clear throughout the day and upon arrival at Yad Vashem greeted them before anyone else — even before Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who was hosting the event.
Impassioned orator took the role of tender companion’
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his official Bethlehem residence.
Mr Abbas thanked the United Kingdom for its help to the Palestinians in building state institutions, as well as its assistance to UNRWA, the UN refugee agency for Palestinians.
He also told Charles he was grateful to Britain for “accepting the twostate solution and rejecting the USled ‘deal of the century’.”
The Prince of Wales ended his visit by travelling back to the Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives, where he paid respects at the tomb of his grandmother, Princess Alice, who was instrumental in saving Jewish lives in Athens during the Second World War.