5 September 2016

The Major of Redbridge, Councillor Gurdial Bhamra, enjoyed a Shabbat morning service at Bet Tikvah.

The mayor, who is Sikh, has been visiting many different religious places of worship in the London Borough of Redbridge to promote his message that “we are all one community”.

On his first ever visit to a synagogue, the mayor avidly followed the service and spent time getting to know congregants.

Bet Tikvah’s Rabbi David Hulbert, pictured with the mayor, took the service and spoke about the many remarkable similarities between Judaism and Sikhism, in both ethical teachings and ritual practice.

In June, David was invited to participate in the formal induction service for the new mayor, at his gurdwara, and was asked to publicly recite a blessing to wish him well during his year of office. On September 15, he will lead the prayers before a full council meeting at Ilford Town Hall.