Tekes Zikaron – Ceremony of Remembrance
On 7th October 2024 the NHS National Jewish Staff Network held a Tekes Zikaron – Ceremony of Remembrance – for all 1,200 lives lost in the atrocities carried out by terrorists on 7th October 2023, and for those hostages who lost their lives in the hands of their captors; and to express the hope that the remaining 101 hostages, who will have spent a year in captivity, will be rescued or freed soon to return to their families and homes.
Speakers were Dr Yoel Har-Even (Vice President for Global Affairs, Sheba Medical Centre, Ramat Gan, Israel) and Steven Phillips (Founder of Jewish Employee Resource Group). Both spoke about their experiences on and since 7th October 2023. A Yarzheit (Memorial) Candle was lit in memory of the lives lost and members online able to do so were invite to join the group in that way.
To coincide with this a joint statement from the Chairs of the NHS Jewish Network and Chairs of the NHS Muslim Network was posted:
Today marks the first anniversary of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel. The events of that day, and all that has followed, continue to be profoundly shocking and distressing for us all. We have witnessed the tragic loss of tens of thousands of innocent lives in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon. We have seen many more families and communities torn apart by displacement, loss and fear. Our thoughts today are also with the 101 hostages who will mark a full year held in captivity.
As representatives of our Networks, we know that the events of October 7th and the ongoing conflict affect many NHS staff and their families and friends – in some cases because of direct links to the region, but often through the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia that it has precipitated here in England. We know events both at home and abroad can generate strong opinions, which mean colleagues do not always feel safe at work.
As we reach this anniversary, it will be important for our colleagues to have time and space to discuss these events and their experiences. In that spirit, we have written these blogs to share our respective thoughts and perspective on the last year. We hope our words will help bring colleagues together – drawing on the values of compassion, respect and diversity that sit at the heart of our service – to reflect together, to remember together, to draw strength and allyship from one another.
Co-signed by:
Naveed Sharif – Associate Director for Culture and Inclusion, Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB & Co-Chair of the NHS National Muslim Network
Fatma Habib – Clinical Lead Urgent Treatment Centre, Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust & Co-Chair of the NHS National Muslim Network
Sajjad Mushtaq – Implementation and Business Change Support Manager & Co-Chair of the NHS National Muslim Network
Yusra Choudry – Training Programme Facilitator, Foundation Pharmacy & Co-Chair of the NHS National Muslim Network
Emma Orrock – Head of Clinical Senates, East Midlands and West Midlands Clinical Senates & Co-Chair/ Co-Founder of the NHS National Jewish Network
Natalie Murray – Senior Manager for Clinical Programmes, NHSE & Co-Chair of the NHS National Jewish Network
Martin Ware – Head of Hospital at Home/ Virtual Wards, NHSE & Co-Chair/ Co-Founder of the NHS National Jewish Network
Muslim Staff Network’s Statement 7 October – 07/10/2024
A year on from the attacks in Israel, we want to begin by acknowledging the sadness, pain and heartbreaking trauma of those who have lost friends and family on both sides of this heinous conflict. The suffering of innocent Palestinians and Israelis, the profound injuries of those hurt and the devastating destruction of homes and neighbourhoods.
Escalating events in the Middle East bring nothing more to our colleagues – regardless of their demographic connections – than greater anxiety and fear about what has happened and what could happen further. We know how sad and worrying a time this is for our communities and pray for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire in the region.
We feel the pain of the families of the hostages, as well as the thousands of men, women and children that have been killed during this catastrophic conflict. According to UNICEF, more than 14,000 children have been killed and around 1.9 million people (about 9 in 10 of Gaza’s population) are estimated to have been internally displaced, half of them children (UNICEF, Sept 2024).
Far away from the terror of the conflict and those living through it, for Muslims and Jews in the UK, these events have exacerbated existing challenges related to Islamophobic / anti-Muslim and antisemitic rhetoric. This has led to wider discrimination and affected the mental health of many of our brothers and sisters, who have loved ones being caught up in this conflict.
The riots that erupted this summer, highlighted the anti-Islamic rhetoric across the UK. We have seen many incidences of our sister’s hijabs being pulled off, subjection to Islamophobic abuse and the fear of simply getting on public transport in case of abuse. Our Muslim colleagues have even had to face vitriol from patients they care for – some refusing to be treated by them, and sadly also from other members of NHS staff – microaggressions, verbal and physical abuse. Many of our members have reported experiencing increased levels of animosity, attacks and hate crimes against them. Ultimately this has heightened the pressure to either speak out or remain silent on geo-political issues, which affects their wellbeing and sense of belonging in the workplace.
Kindness, compassion, and inclusion is part of our DNA and this starts with the willingness to call out and challenge poor behaviour irrespective of whom it is directed at. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with all our colleagues where oppression or discrimination rears its ugly head. We are stronger together, and as the Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him said)
“No matter to which nation or tribe you belong and no matter what your status is, you are equal…”
We pray that the hostages are returned safely and the relentless bombing stops.
We pray that that the focus is on what binds us, rather than what divides.
We wish peace and harmony for all our diverse communities.
*The Muslim Network is a non-political organisation set up to provide support and community to Muslims within the NHS.
If you have been affected by these events, please visit our mental health and wellbeing page to see the support we can offer you.
Reflections of a British Jew – 7 October Commemorative Event – Emma Orrock’s blog – 07/10/2024
I do not feel safe in Britain.
As 7 October 2024 approaches, one year after the attack on Israel, speaking up still feels fraught with complexity and anxiety, which probably encapsulates how I feel today and have felt every day since 7 October last year (2023). Self-conscious about revealing my Jewish identity, not feeling safe psychologically or physically, experiencing othering, gaslighting and imposed divisiveness. I have become much more wary and I desperately wrestle with feelings of paranoia, which make me do things like remove a background of Channukah (the Jewish “festival of lights”) from my laptop (December 2023) when I suddenly realised on a packed train to work that people could see this and may then realise I am Jewish.
I have witnessed a significant rise in antisemitism (anti-Jewish racism and hatred) which has doubled in the first half of 2024 alone[1] and has affected all parts of life for British Jews – in our schools, universities, workplaces (including in our NHS workplaces), directed at our synagogues, on our streets and on-line. The underlying antisemitism that existed before 7 October in our country is now being expressed more virulently and is becoming normalised. Targeted antisemitic attacks and vandalism, antisemitic incidents and intimidation and harassment.
As well as wrestling with my own feelings of turmoil and sadness, members of our Jewish Staff Network are absorbing the depth of feelings within the Jewish NHS community – and beyond. Antisemitism punches up and down – anti-racist banners that tell Jews they are not welcome in London.
As I write this, I am also aware of the many forms of discrimination that have been increasing over the last year including a significant rise in Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate and on our streets the recent deplorable riots and acts of violence affecting our British Muslim community and migrant communities.
As a great-granddaughter of immigrants who left Russia in the late 1800s to escape the violent pogroms against Jews, I often wonder how Joseph and Dora might feel about what is happening in Britain today. They left Russia so that future generations of our family could live in a relative safe haven as Jews. My family anglicised their names and assimilated into British culture and still the hate pursues us. It is profound to realise that the survival instincts of my ancestors are the reason why I am alive today. It’s because of this I am proud to be a Jew and I hold onto hope that this will pass.
Growing up in Britain as a Jew I have always felt a pang of fear when revealing my identity, a fear rooted in my earliest memories of antisemitism. Antisemitism takes many forms, both blatant and subtle, and it can occur when you are in the same “room” or when holding a perfectly calm conversation and then upon revealing my Jewish ethnicity I have become suddenly faced with vile hate. As an ethnic minority, from a very early age you are aware that you are different – or at least you may be perceived by others to be so. I remember vividly the sting of hate when, at just 11 years old, in the first few days in my first year of secondary school (yes I am that age!) the other kids in my class were telling antisemitic jokes. They may not have even understood themselves what they were saying but I felt sure the teacher who was present and said nothing will have understood. I decided on that day to never tell another soul in my school that I was Jewish. Now, decades later, my heart breaks as I hear my eldest nephew – just 11 himself – grapple with the same fears. I wonder, with deep sorrow, what has changed, and why does it feel so much worse now? What kind of a world are we creating when a child has to hide their identity.
So, how have I been dealing with my day-to-day emotions over the last 12 months – which are exhausting at times.
Even though this has been incredibly hard, I have been trying to convert my feelings of helplessness into positive action.
I have been converting my feelings of despondency into unity and friendship.
And I have drawn strength to persevere from our Jewish Staff Network.
Because the support we need is from each other (and our institutions) and because we are stronger together and allyship is powerful. My hope is for peace and reconciliation and this begins with small conversations and friendships with people of all diversities and beliefs. Such conversations may be difficult at first and there may be times when we have to agree to disagree, but with patience, compassion and a willingness in the belief that we are stronger together than separate and so I reach out my hand in friendship to you and I hope that brighter days will be ahead.
As I look toward the future, I hold on to the hope that one day, my nephew will proudly speak of his heritage without fear.
“Imagine all the people Living life in peace” (John Lennon)
Emma Orrock, co-founder and co-chair NHS Jewish Staff Network