Daily prayer in the Kingdom Season: 9, Saturday 9 November 2024

‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much’ (Luke 16: 10) … changing old banknotes for new ones (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2024)

Patrick Comerford

We are in the Kingdom Season, the time between All Saints and Advent. The Calendar of the Church of England in Common Worship today remembers Margery Kempe, Mystic (ca 1440).

Before today begins, before having breakfast, I am taking some quiet time early this morning to give thanks, and for reflection, prayer and reading in these ways:

1, today’s Gospel reading;

2, a short reflection;

3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary;

4, the Collects and Post-Communion prayer of the day.

‘Make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes’ (Luke 16: 9) … not an ATM but street art, seen in Bray, Co Wicklow (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Luke 16: 9-15 (NRSVA):

[Jesus said:] 9 ‘And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

10 ‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13 No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. 15 So he said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.’

The former Commercial Bank of Greece branch in Rethymnon is abandoned and the oranges and lemons are rotting on the trees in the garden (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Today’s reflection:

In the Gospel reading for the Eucharist today, we read Jesus’s explanation of the parable of ‘the Unjust Steward’ or the ‘Parable of the Dishonest Manager’, which we read yesterday.

Sarah Dylan Breuer, when she produced her celebrated American blog Sarah Laughed (www.sarahlaughed.net), said most commentators agree the parable is about how the shrewd steward acts decisively, and that Jesus is describing the ‘in-breaking of the Kingdom of God, call[ing] upon us all to act decisively.’

But she also points out that forgiveness is an overarching theme throughout the Gospels. How often should I forgive? As Saint Luke reminds us in the next chapter, even if someone offends seven times a day, I should be willing to forgive them seven times (Luke 17: 1-4). Seven … the perfect number … I should be willing to forgive perfectly.

If this story is all about forgiveness, and if Sarah Dylan Breuer is correct, then we must forgive, even when we have no right to forgive, even if it does not benefit us at all. We must forgive with grand irresponsibility.

But there is another difficult point in this Gospel story. Verses 10-11 say: ‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?’

Being faithful with what is given to me is also a familiar Gospel theme: it is found in the parable of the talents. But being faithful with dishonest wealth is a puzzling concept, even if it speaks to recent economic dilemmas in both Britain and Ireland. Is it still possible to manage goods in ways that are appropriate to, that witness to, that are signs of the Kingdom of God?

If I am responsible for the small things in life, then hopefully I can be responsible for the large things. Very few of us are asked to do huge things, such as win a by-election, finish a masterpiece, solve the banking crisis, score a winning try or goal. But we are asked to do a multitude of small things – within our family, our friends, our neighbours, our fellow students, in this community.

And: ‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.’ Yet, it is often most difficult to forgive the small things.

I heard a comedian tell of a young man, up from the provinces, starting work in a menial clerical post, living in a cramped, one-room flat in Rathmines. In the room above is another man in similar circumstances, working late shifts as a labourer.

Each night, just as he goes to sleep, the office worker is woken by his neighbour as he opens the front door, clumps-clumps up the stairs, plods into his room above, sits on his bed, and throws his two big boots on the floor above our poor, weary and demented friend, one-by-one.

Each night, our sad insurance clerk waits for same routine, knowing that he cannot get to sleep until at least he hears both boots being thumped on the floor above.

One day, being a Christian, the more timid office worker approaches his neighbour, explains the problem, and asks could he come in quietly at night, and take his shoes off gently.

Surprisingly, his neighbour is sympathetic, understanding. The next night, he turns the key quietly, tip toes upstairs, sits down quietly, takes off both shoes in one go and places them together, gently, on the floor above.

Meanwhile, his neighbour downstairs is lying in bed, waiting anxiously. He can’t get any shut eye. He’s heard his neighbour come in, go up, sit down, and has heard the one muffled thud on the floor … Only one … he waits … he tosses … he waits … he turns … And finally, he can wait no more. He screams out: ‘Would you throw down the other darn shoe and let’s all go to sleep!’

Learning to forgive the very little slights and offences is often so difficult when we live closely to one another: the muffled sounds next door when someone is up late finishing an essay; the early riser heading out for a morning jog who unintentionally wakes us; the unexpected slurps at the table; the accent that irritates me because, subconsciously, it reminds me of a particular neighbour or family member.

Sometimes, if truth is told, it is easier to forgive when it comes to the big things. Yet, our spiritual relationship with God is reflected in our social and economic relationship with others. If we can be entrusted with the small things, are ready to forgive the small things, then we can be entrusted with the biggest of all … We can be stewards of the mysteries of God.

Perhaps, like the shrewd steward, we need to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.

‘Who will entrust to you the true riches?’ (Luke 16: 11) … old Greek banknotes that have lost their currency and true value (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Today’s Prayers (Saturday 9 November 2024):

The theme this week in ‘Pray With the World Church’, the Prayer Diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), has been ‘Conflict, Confluence and Creativity’. This theme was introduced last Sunday with reflections by Rebecca Boardman, former Operations Manager, USPG.

The USPG Prayer Diary today (Saturday 9 November 2024) invites us to pray reflecting on these words:

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew (Proverbs 3: 19-20).

The Collect:

Almighty and eternal God,
you have kindled the flame of love
in the hearts of the saints:
grant to us the same faith and power of love,
that, as we rejoice in their triumphs,
we may be sustained by their example and fellowship;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Post Communion Prayer:

Lord of heaven,
in this eucharist you have brought us near
to an innumerable company of angels
and to the spirits of the saints made perfect:
as in this food of our earthly pilgrimage
we have shared their fellowship,
so may we come to share their joy in heaven;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect:

God of glory,
touch our lips with the fire of your Spirit,
that we with all creation
may rejoice to sing your praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect on the Eve of the Third Sunday before Advent:

Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of all:
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Yesterday’s Reflection

Continued Tomorrow

‘Father Forgive’ and the Cross of Nails in Coventry Cathedral … it is often most difficult to forgive the small things (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

The Jewish Community in Gibraltar celebrates 300 years of the oldest of its four synagogues

Inside the Great Synagogue of Gibraltar or Shaar Hashamyim Synagogue, celebrating its 300th anniversary this week

Patrick Comerford

The Jewish Community in Gibraltar this week (7 November 2024) celebrated the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Great Synagogue of Gibraltar.

The history of the Jews in Gibraltar dates back more than 650 years. During that time, there have been periods of persecution, but for the most part the Jews of Gibraltar have prospered and been one of the largest religious minorities on ‘the Rock’.

Significantly, they have faced almost no official anti-Semitism over their centuries, and during Gibraltar’s tercentenary celebration in 2004, the former Chief Rabbi, the late Lord (Jonathan) Sacks, said, ‘In the dark times of expulsion and inquisition, Gibraltar lit the beacon of tolerance,’ and that Gibraltar In the dark times of expulsion and inquisition, Gibraltar lit the beacon of tolerance,’

The round-headed doorway and round-headed windows of the Great Synagogue in Gibraltar, founded 300 years ago by Isaac Nieto from Bevis Marks Synagogue in London

When I visited Gibraltar some years ago, the Jewish presence was visible on the streets, but I missed the opportunity to visit any of the four synagogues in the city. So it was interesting to hear this week about the celebrations marking the tercentenary of Shaar Hashamyim Synagogue, or the Great Synagogue in Gibraltar, the oldest synagogue in continuous use in Gibraltar, which was founded in 1724.

The Great Synagogue in Gibraltar was founded by Isaac Nieto, who was also the Haham or rabbi and spiritual leader of the Spanish and Portuguese congregation in London, Sha’are Hashamayim, popularly known as Bevis Marks Synagogue.

However, the first record of Jews in Gibraltar dates from 1356 CE, under Muslim rule, when the community appealed for help in securing the ransom of a group of Jews captured by Barbary pirates. In 1474, 12 years after the Christian takeover, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, sold Gibraltar to a group of Jewish conversos from Cordova and Seville led by Pedro de Herrera in exchange for maintaining the garrison of the town for two years.

When the two years were up, however, the 4,350 Jews in Gibraltar were expelled by the Duke, and their fate is unknown. Many may have returned to Cordova where they faced persecution at the Inquisition directed by Torquemada from 1488, until Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 and from Portugal in 1497.

Gibraltar came under British rule through the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, Gibraltar came under British rule. But in the treaty, Spain insisted on including a clause barring Jews and Moors from the city. Under pressure from Spain, Jews were expelled Jews from Gibraltar once again in 1717. However, when Britain sought to reopen trade talks with the Sultan of Morocco, he refused to negotiate unless Jews and Muslims were allowed to settle in Gibraltar.

General William Hargrave, Governor of Gibraltar, presented a piece of land in Engineer Lane to a Jewish merchant, Isaac Nieto (1702-1774), in 1724, and he used the site to build a small synagogue.

Nieto was the Governor’s secretary when it came to relations with Morocco, and so was an influential figure.

Nieto had been born in Leghorn, the son of David Nieto (1654-1728), a doctor and rabbi from Venice. His father brought him to London at a young age when he became Chief Rabbi of the Sephardi congregation at Bevis Marks in 1702. Bevis Marks synagogue was founded from the Sephardi synagogue in Amsterdam, which explains many similarities with the features of the Sha’ar HaShamayim synagogue in Gibraltar.

The Great Synagogue in Gibraltar has been rebuilt several times over the past 300 years

Isaac Nieto is regarded as the founder and first religious leader of the modern Jewish community in Gibraltar. He organised the community in 1724 along similar lines to those at Bevis Marks and gave it the same name Kahal Kadosh Sha’ar HaShamayim or ‘Holy Congregation Gate of Heaven’. However, it became known as the Great Synagogue or Esnoga Grande, so the Great Synagogue in Gibraltar is the oldest synagogue in continuous use in Gibraltar.

Following the death of his father in 1728, Isaac Nieto returned to London and in 1732 he was appointed Chief Rabbi of the Bevis Marks Synagogue.

The Great Synagogue of Gibraltar at 49 Engineer Lane is behind a three-storey domestic-looking façade with round-headed windows and a round-headed doorway.

The Great Synagogue has been rebuilt several times in the 300 years that have followed. The original building had its entrance in what is now Serfaty’s Passage, but this building was destroyed in the great rainstorm of 30 December 1766, when 80 people drowned. This access, from a narrow alley was once colloquially referred to as ‘Synagogue Lane’.

The same storm caused a breach in the Line Wall that had to be hastily repaired by William Green and his engineers. A new larger building was built with a new entrance in Engineer Lane, and the date in Hebrew can still be seen on the façade. At the time, there were 600 Jews in Gibraltar, making up one-third of the civilian population.

The building, like most in the town, was destroyed again on 17 May 1781 during indiscriminate Spanish gunfire following the arrival of the second relief convoy escorted by Admiral Darby’s fleet.

The synagogue was rebuilt in 1812 after it was damaged by a fire and the present vaulted ceiling dates from that time. It is possible that the Engineer Street entrance dates from the 1812 rebuilding.

The present building shares many common features with the Spanish and Portuguese synagogues of Amsterdam (1675) and Bevis Marks in London (1701). The appearance is typical, with shuttered windows, although it lacks the characteristic iron works balconies of Regency Gibraltar. The plain building is rendered and painted with stone quoins and surrounds. The interior features include colourful tiles, wrought-iron balustrades, dark wooden furnishings and marble floors.

Some alterations were made in 1912, as the inscriptions in the stone window heads flanking the main door attests.

Irish Town in Gibraltar … the Ets Hayim (Tree of Life) or Little Synagogue (Esnoga Chica) was founded there in 1759 (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Three other synagogues in Gibraltar function on Shabbat and feast days and can be found behind the façades of typical early 19th century terraces in the narrow streets of the Old Town.

The Ets Hayim (Tree of Life) or Little Synagogue (Esnoga Chica) was founded in 1759 by Moroccan Jews who wanted a less formal service. It still stands at 91 Irish Town. Irish Town is an important commercial street in the heart of Gibraltar. In Ulysses, James Joyce says Leopold Bloom’s wife Molly is from Gibraltar, and over the centuries many Governors were of Irish birth or from Irish families.

The lavish Flemish Synagogue (Esnoga Flamenca) or Nefutsot Yehuda (Dispersed of Judah) synagogue was built in 1799-1800 on Line Wall Road in response to the request of some people for a return to more formal, Dutch and London customs.

The fourth synagogue in Gibraltar, the Abudarham Synagogue (Esnoga Abudarham), was founded in 1820 at 19 Parliament Lane by recent Moroccan immigrants and is named after Rabbi Solomon Abudarham.

Most Jews were evacuated from Gibraltar to the United Kingdom during World War II (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

By 1805, Jews represented half of Gibraltar’s population.
Gibraltar City Hall on John Mackintosh Square, once known as Connaught House, was built in 1819 as his family home by Aaron Nunez Cardozo (1762-1834), a prosperous London merchant of Jewish Portuguese descent and consul for Tunis and Algiers in Gibraltar.

During World War II, most Jews were evacuated from Gibraltar to the United Kingdom during World War II. Some Jews opted to stay in the UK, but most returned after the war.

Several Jews have held senior positions in Gibraltar. Sir Joshua Hassan (1915-1997) was the Chief Minister in 1964-1969 and again in 1972-1987; his nephew Solomon Levy (1936-2016) was the Mayor of Gibraltar in 2008-2009.

Gibraltar today has a Jewish population of about 750, five kosher institutions, a Jewish primary school and two Jewish secondary schools.

Throughout the years, the Jewish community in Gibraltar has maintained strong links with the Spanish and Portugues community in Britain and Bevis Marks synagogue in London. More recently, Solomon Levy’s brother, Rabbi Abraham Levy (1939-2022), who was born in Gibraltar, was the senior rabbi at Bevis Marks from 1962 to 2012.

Shabbat Shalom, שבת שלום

The City Hall, Gibraltar … Solomon Levy (1936-2016) was the Mayor of Gibraltar in 2008-2009 (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)