Chief Rabbi Mirvis held a Q&A session with the members of The Friendship Circle, a Manchester-based charity for children and adults with disabilities.
In a Zoom call on 24th November, members of The Friendship Circle got a chance to ask the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis all their burning questions. The Zoom began with a few words by the Chief Rabbi on the difficulties of COVID-19: “I’m so excited to be with all of you. The COVID period has been so challenging, and the very first thing that I want to do is to say congratulations to the volunteers at The Friendship Circle for everything that has been done during the pandemic to ensure that they’ve been in touch with you and that, despite all of the difficulties, you’ve been having a meaningful and enjoyable time. And my main congratulations are to all of you, the members.”
One member named Adam asked the Chief Rabbi when he became a Rabbi: “I became a Rabbi many years ago, I was 25 years old,” the Chief Rabbi explained. “I’ve really enjoyed it. The best thing about being a Rabbi is meeting people and being inspired by them. And you are amongst the people who inspire me, because you are such lovely people and you do so many mitzvahs.”
The next question came from Hannah Levy, who asked if Chief Rabbi Mirvis prefers chocolate or jam doughnuts at Chanukah: “That’s a very easy one to answer. Chocolate doughnuts! If a jam doughnut is given to me, I actually scrape the jam out of it. I’m trying my best not to have too many doughnuts this year!”
The next question came from Claudia, who asked: “What makes you happy?”
“Wow, that is such a beautiful question. The most important thing that makes me happy is my attitude. Because whatever we’re going through in life, if we’ve got a positive attitude then we will be happy.”
Things took a more serious turn with a later question asked by Richard about whether recent natural disasters are all part of G-d’s plan: “That’s such a thoughtful question, and I can tell from you asking it that you care about every life in this world, and that’s very precious. Hashem has His plan, but also asks us to be His partners. So, when it comes to climate change, we need to be decent and to make changes to our life so that the word will be protected.”
Hannah Mendell then asked the Chief Rabbi how important his job is: “I think that every job in the world is important,” he replied. “Importance is not attached to fame; it is attached to usefulness.”
Mark then asked the Chief Rabbi if he thought he would ever get a knighthood: “I have no clue! But the very fact you asked me that question means that you think it might be possible, and I take that as a huge compliment.”
Asking how people with disabilities can be better heard in the Jewish community, he responded to one member: “I think that there are two ways. The best way is for everyone to become partners to allow those voices to be heard. One should try to make one’s voice heard, but then we also have a responsibility to help to make those voices heard, so that we are partners in this way. That’s what The Friendship Circle is doing, and certainly I am here and would be keen to make your voices heard. They you get to the next challenge. Once people hear the voices, we hope that they will notice them.”