By Charles Gardner —
At a time when Jews are once more wondering whether they are no longer welcome in Britain, the Christians of Lincoln have rallied round to honor them in a special way.
At the very spot where murderous antisemitism broke out in the city in the 13th century, an ornate memorial stone has been unveiled, both as a token of support for those so badly treated over the centuries and as a tribute to the many Jewish airmen who died fighting the Nazis.
Carved in India and transported to the UK at great expense by a local quarry company, the stone is appropriately located at the International Bomber Command Centre in Canwick, overlooking the historic city.
As many as 20,000 British Jews (excluding those from the Commonwealth) served with the RAF during World War II, possibly as much as 600 of whom were killed flying in Bomber Command.
Canwick also happens to be the location of the first murdered Jew of Lincoln, recorded in 1255 as being hung on the gallows after being dragged through the streets of the city. It was the gruesome outcome of a notorious blood libel myth – suggesting a Christian boy had been slaughtered for use in religious feasts – that sent ripples of Jew hatred throughout Europe, somewhat akin to what is happening today.
King Henry III, in cahoots with the Church and without a trial, ordered the execution of a Jew named Copin for the alleged crime, with many more Jews later murdered on the orders of the State. And it was only 35 years later, in 1290, that Jews were expelled from England altogether, paving the way for further pogroms and expulsions across Europe, before being welcomed back by Oliver Cromwell nearly four centuries later.
The famous cathedral, meanwhile, erected a monument to the supposed boy martyr, named Hugh. It was destroyed by Cromwell’s troops during the English Civil War, but its base remains in place.
Now, as an expression of deep sorrow for the shameful treatment of its Jewish citizens, the Lincoln Jewish Memorial Stone has been ceremoniously unveiled at an event sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ). And it was dedicated by Rabbi Samuel de Beck Spitzer, a Jewish chaplain based at nearby RAF Cranwell.
The idea was originally proposed at a prayer meeting four years ago which included city council planning official Tim Collis, who had contacts with quarries.
After both the cathedral and the castle declined to help, local quarry owner Phil Kerry offered his full backing, even to covering the considerable cost.
The design was inspired by a first century artefact, now known as the Magdala Stone, recently dug up in the Galilee complete with iconic Second Temple symbolism including the depiction of a menorah.
But because it was too complex for Phil’s own employees, the intricate details were carved by colleagues in Jaipur, India, and duly transferred to the UK last December.
The Christians decided to use stone, not only as a riposte to the blood libel shrine, but also to honor Jesus – “the stone the builders rejected that has become the cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22, 1 Peter 2:7) – who, on Palm Sunday, said that the stones would ‘cry out’ if he silenced those welcoming him to Jerusalem.
As for the Jewish contribution to our war effort, it is recorded that Jewish RAF personnel won 193 Distinguished Flying Cross medals, 64 Distinguished Flying medals and one Victoria Cross. In addition, two Jewish airmen perished in the famous Dambusters mission along with some 50 Battle of Britain aircrew.
One Bomber Command Jewish airman lied about his age to enlist and was a regular at the centre until his death in 2018, while another was a German Jew who managed to escape Nazi Germany before enlisting for the RAF by lying about his identity, and only owning up many years later after the war!
In fact, a high proportion of German-speaking Jewish refugees were used as top-secret Special Operators employed to jam enemy radio communication. One of them, A J H Clayton, was captured on the night of March 30th, 1944, when his Lancaster was shot down and was probably tortured to death for information.
Malcolm Hedding, a former ICEJ executive director from South Africa, said the Jewish airmen had every reason to be embittered by their treatment here over the centuries, but they loved their country so much that they flew in ‘double jeopardy’ because they were flying into a region of the world where they were likely to be gassed if forced to bail out.
“These things should move the soul because here are a people upon whom our very civilizations have been built by their laws and their teachings,” he said.
As for Christians, he warned: “Be careful what you do with them. For you do not support them but they support you.” He was referring to St Paul’s message to the Gentiles in Romans 11:18.
He added: “Now they are fighting for their very lives in a tiny land no bigger than a game reserve in my home country (the Kruger National Park). We appreciate you. We thank you for your sacrifice. We remember that you died in those Lancasters to liberate us.”
Tim Collis, who is also ICEJ’s East Midlands representative, said: “It is our prayer that the memorial will be a cornerstone of remembrance in the city and UK, and will cry out its message of reconciliation and hope for generations to come.”
Now Phil Kerry, whose Goldholme Stone company had earlier provided material for a Jewish community in London, has also blessed the Jews of Lincoln with this precious gift, understood to have cost tens of thousands of pounds.
The centre, opened in 2018 to commemorate the vital part played by Bomber Command airmen in defeating the Nazis, has already won a bronze award among top UK visitor attractions.
