On Sunday 22 October 2023, community and faith leaders led a Moment of Reflection in Stratford as part of Interfaith candlelight vigil bringing residents together from across Newham.
Newham’s religious, interfaith and wider community came together with the call to hold onto the light of hope in unity and solidarity with those who mourn and those who have been displaced, injured or missing loved ones as a result of the events unfolding in Israel and Gaza.
The Moment of Reflection was held at St John’s Church in Stratford, with a prayer given by The Right Reverend Monsignor John Armitage from St Margaret’s Catholic Church in the parish of Canning Town; and words of hope given by Edwin Shuker, vice-president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Dr Farzana Hussain from the Project Surgery in Plaistow. Cllr Canon Ann Easter, the Commissioner for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue at Newham Council, led a candlelight vigil for all lives lost and hostages taken by terrorist group Hamas.
Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Mayor of Newham, said: “Our greatest strength is the diversity of our people and our community in Newham must be our hope. A big concern for all of us is the impact that the war is having on our communities in Newham, from all faiths and none. As well as the dangerous surge in antisemitism and Islamophobia, we know that there are attempts to try to tear our communities apart, when we need to come together as a community to provide comfort, encourage dialogue to deepen understanding, respect and peace.”
“Our interfaith vigil was a truly beautiful moment, with heartfelt speeches from faith leaders and guests from our Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities providing hope and light in this moment of darkness facing the world.”