Camilla? She’s our Hava Nagila dancing Queen
Jewish community rejoices at news that caring Camilla will be named consort when Charles becomes king
V IT WAS a moment that Abraham David, 89, has never forgotten.
Three years ago, during a visit by the Duchess of Cornwall to the Brenner Stepney Jewish Community Centre, a sound system blasted out the Hava Nagila.
“She took my elbow and we went round and round. She danced a lot,” said a delighted Mr David.
But Mr David’s close encounter with the charm and warmth of Camilla was not a one-off.
The Duchess has long been a friend of the Jewish community, and the Queen’s announcement over the weekend that she hoped the duchess would be known as Queen Camilla when Prince Charles is crowned king has been greeted with joy.
Hannah Lewis was among a group of survivors who met the duchess during her visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 2020, to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the camp.
She said: “What stayed with me is that she was genuinely moved and shocked by what she saw. There was no pretence. She showed how moved she was, and how horrified.” Ms Lewis, who has met Camilla several times, added: “I think she’s very straightforward. What you see is what you get.”
On Camilla becoming Queen consort, Ms Lewis said: “I think she’ll step up to it very well.”
The Duchess, who in 2019 unveiled a commemorative plaque at the Brenner Stepney Jewish Community Centre – run by Jewish Care – followed in the footsteps of the Queen, who visited the east London facility in 1956, 1974 and 1987.
Jewish Care Chief Executive Daniel Carmel-Brown said: “Her Royal Highness showed at each visit that she cares about the older members of the Jewish community, spending time talking and even dancing at our centre. These royal visits lend a great sense of respect and support from our country, and mean so much to the older community at Jewish Care, as well as to lay leaders, our volunteers and our staff, who come from 71 countries around the world.” Denise Alexander, coordinator at the centre, said members were “delighted that she’s going to be Queen”.
She added: “The members love the royals and are already getting started with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.”
Mr David clearly remembered Camilla’s visit to mark the Stepney centre’s 80th anniversary. He said it felt like a “real celebration” and added: “She’s a very nice person and very giving to people. She mixed with everyone really easily and stayed for a long time. She shook hands, talked and had photos with everybody.”
During her visit, Camilla spoke of how uplifting she found the east London community centre. She said: “We sometimes go to places which are a bit sad but this place is one of the most uplifting community centres I’ve ever been to.”
Auschwitz survivor Renee Salt also met Camilla at the site of the former death camp, and had tea with her at the Holocaust Survivors’ Centre in 2016. She said: “She was very regal. She looked like a queen. I found her very nice and very approachable.”
She added: “She was very interested to hear where I was and what happened and how I felt coming to Auschwitz after all this time.”
She cares about older members of the Jewish community