Simon Barratt at Norwich Friends of Israel celebration

Simon Barratt,  journalist and popular presenter of Middle East news on Christian TV, will be among special guest speakers at a celebration in Norwich on Tuesday, May 22, for the 70th anniversary of the modern State of Israel.

All are welcome to this inspirational evening, called ‘Celebrating  70.’ Arranged by East Anglia Friends of Israel (EAFI), the event will be at Soul Church, on Mason Road, Norwich, NR6 6RF. Coffee and cake will be served from 6.30pm and the programme begins at 7.20pm. 

This is the third Spring event of EAFI which this year will feature music, video news and guests including Steven Jaffe, from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, along with members of the Hebrew Congregation in Norwich, and Simon Barratt, regular presenter of the weekly Middle East Report on Revelation TV. This celebration will be hosted by Nigel Fox and Jill Gower.

“East Anglia Friends of Israel, now in its third year, is a key link in a UK and European-wide network of friends with a special love for the young nation of Israel, its people and its history,” says an EAFI spokesman. “This is an important time for us, both Christians and Jews, to show our support, so we very much look forward to welcoming friends, old and new, on Tuesday, May 22.”

Interestingly, the first Norwich synagogue was founded in the 11th century. The medieval synagogue was in the city centre, close to the Castle, but after the expulsion of the Jews in 1290, there was no known Jewish community in Norwich until the mid-18th century.

A beautiful synagogue was built in 1849 which was used for worship for 93 years until it was destroyed by enemy action in 1942. The present synagogue was consecrated in 1969, and plans are under way for a major refurbishment.

“Our ‘Celebrating 70’ event on Tuesday May 22 will be entrance-free and a great evening as we reflect on the remarkable re-birth of the nation of Israel in 1948. We hope many friends of Israel - Christians, Jews and others - will come along to this event to hear our special guests,” says an EAFI organiser.

Pictured above is TV presenter Simon Barratt, plus previous EAFI events in Norwich.