Rabbi Shalom Morris

Rabbi of Bevis Marks, the U.K.'s oldest synagogue, est 1701. Jewish History PhD candidate, KCL, Modern Atlantic Sephardic ideology.

[Bevis Marks Synagogue @bevismarksuk]

UK's oldest synagogue sets skyscraper principles. Link to consultation https://t.co/6a0Z2L8bHT
@BBCNews @cityoflondon @RabbiMorris @mtpennycook @RNBlake https://t.co/iYaP7QWYSI

[Michael G Green 🇬🇧 🇮🇱 @eldondetekno]

@bevismarksuk we had a special Purim celebration last night and welcomed @HausdorffMedia I thanked her on behalf of our community and on a personal level for all the good work done by @UKLFI. We truly appreciate your devotion and advocacy.

[Rabbi Shalom Morris @RabbiMorris]

My ancestors moved to America from Lithuania in the 1890s. I have a family tree that goes back to King David. Israel is my ancestral homeland. Thank you @GovMikeHuckabee for defending what is obvious to anyone who isn’t an antisemite. God bless you and God bless America.

[Ambassador Mike Huckabee @GovMikeHuckabee]

When I sat down with Tucker Carlson on Wednesday, I was expecting a thoughtful conversation and that he would ask questions and give me the opportunity to actually respond--just like he did with the little Nazi sympathizer Nick Fuentes or the guy who thought Hitler was the good guy and Churchill the bad guy. What I wasn't anticipating was a lengthy series of questions where he seemed to be insinuating that the Jews of today aren't really same people as the Jews of the Bible.

I'll first just say something I didn't think to say to Tucker, which is that Ashkenazi Jews, meaning those who families had spent centuries in Europe, are a minority of Israel's Jewish population, only maybe 35-40%. There are far more Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews inside Israel.

But there's a good reason, as it turns out, that I had never encountered this theory that Tucker kept pushing on. That’s because it comes from some of the darkest realms of the Internet and social media.

I think it's important to take a moment now and educate Tucker and anyone else who might get sucked in by this dangerous conspiracy theory, just as I have been educated this week.

I'm sharing this information because it has been weaponized by very bad people to delegitimize Jews and strip them of their history.

It's an idea that gained traction in the 80's and 90's with David Duke and other Klansmen and neo-Nazis. It has really caught fire in recent years on the Internet and social media, mostly from some of the most overt anti-Semites and Jew haters you can find.

I don’t know why Tucker was so fixated on this, and I'm certainly not saying he knew the origins of this conspiracy theory. I don't know what's in his heart or what he was thinking.

But I do know that the discredited idea that most Ashkenazi or European Jews descended from the ancient Turkic kingdom of Khazaria is bunk. It's also been weaponized by people trying to deligitimize Jews, to strip them of their history, and to call them "imposters" or "fake Jews."

This odious conspiracy theory is peddled by the likes of Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes and by people who love David Duke, as well as Islamist accounts that make up false smears about Israel non-stop and are run out of countries like Pakistan and Turkey.

But we know from genetics and rich volumes of written literature that the Jews of today can trace their lineage back thousands of years to the Israel and the Jewish people of the Bible.

They are as connected together as genetics tell us that the ancient Khazar kingdom is to people living today in Turkey.

And if Tucker wants to tour more than Ben-Gurion Airport on his next trip to Israel, I'm happy to show him places where Jews have lived going back to the time of Jesus Christ and even earlier.

I sincerely hope Tucker will let me know when he actually wants to learn facts about the land and people. Asking me about conspiracy theories should remain on the fringes and not be the heart of the conversation.

[Rabbi Shalom Morris @RabbiMorris]

@GovMikeHuckabee @EFischberger My ancestors moved to America from Lithuania in the 1890s. I have a family tree that goes back to King David. Israel is my ancestral homeland. Thank you @GovMikeHuckabee for defending what is obvious to anyone who isn’t an antisemite. God bless you and God bless America.

[Rabbi Shalom Morris @RabbiMorris]

@citypolicychair @bevismarksuk On behalf of myself and my community thank you for this meaningful recognition and historical honour.

[Policy Chairman Chris Hayward @citypolicychair]

A richly deserved honour for @RabbiMorris for his years of service to Jewish cultural and religious life in the City and beyond, and to the cause of building bridges between people of all faiths and none.

Under his leadership, @bevismarksuk continues to play an invaluable role in the Square Mile community, as it has done for more than three centuries. I'm especially delighted that its new heritage centre will open early next year, bringing its extraordinary story to countless visitors from across the globe.

[Rabbi Shalom Morris @RabbiMorris]

For centuries Jewish people have become Freeman of the City of London. Whilst the Freedom meant economic opportunity, for Jews it conveyed equality and friendship. As rabbi of @bevismarksuk I welcome this enduring symbol of our community’s cherished place within the @cityoflondon

[City of London @cityoflondon]

Congratulations @RabbiMorris of @bevismarksuk on being awarded the Freedom of the City of London, after 10 years as spiritual leader of the UK’s oldest synagogue in continuous use, recognising his years of service to Jewish cultural and religious life in the City and beyond

[City of London @cityoflondon]

Following the attack on Heaton Park Synagogue, @citylordmayor, Tijs Broeke, @umerkhan, were pleased to attend Shabbat at @bevismarksuk and grateful to @RabbiMorris for the warm welcome. We and @CityPolice stand with our Jewish community and committed to their safety.

[Rabbi Shalom Morris @RabbiMorris]

In the face of those who try to destroy, we build.

[Rabbi Shalom Morris @RabbiMorris]

The sky itself is weeping for the Bibas family. #London #nofilter

[Bevis Marks Synagogue @bevismarksuk]

We are relieved, thank G-d, to be able to recite Birkat Levana tonight in the @cityoflondon without fear that it could be the last time. Thank you to everyone who spoke out to preserve our ancient congregation’s rights of worship.

[Bevis Marks Synagogue @bevismarksuk]

This month at @bevismarksuk in @cityoflondon we remember the over sixty members of our congregation who gave their lives in defense of Britain and freedom in the Two World Wars. @AJEX_UK @jewsfww @PoppyLegion #WeRememberThem

[Kaya Burgess @kayaburgess]

Dispute over plans for a 43-storey office block overshadowing Britain's oldest synagogue could see Angela Rayner rule on the case

Government has issued a "holding" order on the planning application, as it considers calls for Housing Secretary to intervene https://t.co/Nm0QgVNXmu

[S Sebag Montefiore @simonmontefiore]

Protect Bevis Marks!
A dispute over plans to build a 43-storey office block overshadowing Britain’s oldest synagogue has led the government to step in and say it will consider calls for Angela Rayner to take control of the case.

Three are plans to build an office tower about 25m away from the grade I-listed Bevis Marks synagogue near Aldgate in central London, which has been in continuous use since it was built in 1701.

https://t.co/D6ohxAO3KC

[Rachel Blake @RNBlake]

It's positive to see the Secretary of State call in this application.

The proposed development would impact Bevis Marks synagogue, and I have objected to it.

I believe this application goes against policies that protect accessibility, inclusivity, and cultural heritage.

[S Sebag Montefiore @simonmontefiore]

Bevis Mark is a British historic treasure as well as a Jewish one. It is a place of great beauty and history. And it is vital that it is protected into the future from looming brutal tower-blocks that will ruin and overshadow this exquisite jewel of British and Jewish history and culture. If the government @AngelaRayner is stepping in to protect it, that is an admirable move; it is what governments are for, amongst others things - to protect places of special value to the nation's culture religion architecture and history. Thank you! @bevismarksuk @simon_schama @holland_tom @JewishChron @JewishNewsUK @BoardofDeputies
https://t.co/D6ohxAO3KC

[Ben Lynch @benlynch07]

Angela Rayner may take over the decision for a 43-storey tower near Bevis Marks Synagogue. https://t.co/IgHAjm5JOM

[Bevis Marks Synagogue @bevismarksuk]

@cityoflondon planning committee to look at proposal to build 43-floor tower which would overshadow 300-year-old synagogue

https://t.co/xtx65T8e6S

[Sephardi Kashrut Authority (SKA) @skakosher]

The following products are approved (Pareve):
Sabra Houmous (Entire Range)

Visit https://t.co/lFrVH8fvDc to see our certified and approved lists.

#ska #kosher #kosherlife #kosherlondon #sabrahummus #houmous #hummus

[Rabbi Shalom Morris @RabbiMorris]

It is so wonderful for our community to be able to help others in need. Well done to the many who contributed items, and who volunteered their time, to make this effort so successful.

[Bevis Marks Synagogue @bevismarksuk]

Yesterday @bevismarksuk we participated in @MitzvahDay where we collected warm clothing for the homeless. We were joined by City Councillor Eamon Mullaly who spoke to us about the plight of homelesness in the @cityoflondon and what faith groups are doing. #StrongerTogether