Members of Lincolnshire’s Jewish communities have taken part in a heartfelt dedication service for the Lincoln Jewish Memorial Stone (LJMS) at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) just outside of the city.

This significant memorial commemorates the Jews who served and died in the RAF during the Second World War and pays homage to the Medieval Jewish history of Lincoln.

The LJMS (pictured right) is hand-carved and modelled on the 2,000-year-old Magdala Stone discovered near the Sea of Galilee in Israel in 2009. It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Jewish history and sacrifice.

The RAF’s Rabbi Samuel de Beck Spitzer led the dedication ceremony. Other dignitaries paying their respects included the Mayor of Lincoln Cllr Alan Briggs, local MP Dr Caroline Johnson and the highest-ranked Jewish RAF officer, Air Vice Marshall Phil Lester – as well as representatives from the local Jewish communities and AJEX.

They were surrounded by the names of over 600 Jewish fallen aircrew of Bomber Command, among the 58,000 commemorated at the site.

Paul Hyams, a member of Lincolnshire’s Progressive Jewish Community, was on the planning committee behind this important project. He acknowledged the support that made it possible, saying: “We are indebted to the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, who have been the driving force of the project, and to Phil Kerry, owner of Goldstone Quarry, who donated the stone from its carving in Jaipur, India, to its installation at the Bomber Command Centre.”

Tim Collis, the project co-leader, expressed his hopes for the future, adding: “It is our prayer that the Memorial will be a cornerstone of remembrance in the city of Lincoln and beyond. I believe it will cry out its message of remembrance, reconciliation, and hope for generations to come.”

The dedication of the LJMS marks a significant moment for Lincolnshire’s Jewish Communities, ensuring that the contributions and sacrifices of Jewish servicemen and women are remembered and honoured for generations to come.