I’m scripting this in a cemetery, one thing I can extremely
suggest when you worth silence and sweetness and area to suppose. The one sounds are the rustling of leaves, the reasonably surprising raucous cries of parakeets, and the faucet faucet faucet of writers at their laptops.
I’m right here at Willesden Jewish Cemetery as a result of for the primary time in its 150
yr historical past, it’s operating a 4 day writers’ retreat, a possibility I might
not miss, though I can solely be spared sooner or later from my day job. I’ve loads
to jot down – this weblog put up, two articles (I haven’t been utterly free of
the day job). I am additionally going to attempt to make time on the finish to jot down a bit of little bit of fiction, however that is perhaps troublesome. Not often have I discovered it so troublesome to flee into an imaginary world, simply on the time after I want it probably the most.
At lunchtime I had a wander
across the grounds, attempting to identify probably the most well-known graves. There’s Rosalind
Franklin, who labored on the invention of DNA, there are artists Mark Gertler
and Simeon Solomon, there’s Harriet Samuel who took over her husband’s
clock-making enterprise and turned it into the H Samuel chain of jewellers retailers. Jane Joseph, who has the grave subsequent to Rosalind Franklin, was a musician and composer. Eliza Davis (1816-1903) took exception to Charles Dickens’ portrayal of Fagin
in Oliver Twist and wrote to inform him so persuasively that he tried to edit the
e-book put up publication and wrote way more sympathetic Jewish characters in
subsequent publications.
The Nationwide Jewish Conflict Memorial is right here too, bearing
witness to the contribution of Jewish troopers combating for Britain, and there
are Commonwealth battle graves from the 2 World Wars. There are Chief rabbis and
Rothschild aristocrats, retailers and musicians, politicians and communal leaders. The story of the cemetery is one among a minority neighborhood eager to combine, aping the methods of
Christian Victorians (the prayer corridor and different buildings appear virtually comically
churchy to me) even in the way in which a number of the the gravestones are formed and
adorned. I’ve by no means seen urns and pillars and swags of stone ivy in different
Jewish cemeteries.
The cemetery is a logo of success, a neighborhood happy with itself and its rising place in British society. Listed here are the foundations of the neighborhood I’m a part of in the present day. I’ve at all times felt so fortunate to be British, so appreciative
of the protected, cultured liberal society round me. Typing these
phrases although, right here within the silent cemetery introduced tears to my eyes. As a result of it
now not feels altogether protected to be Jewish in my house metropolis. And now I’m wondering how and why
I ever thought it was protected in any respect.
The indicators have been there for ages. We’ve at all times had guards on Jewish colleges and synagogues. We’re used to having
our baggage checked on our approach in to
communal occasions. We are likely to minimise the tiny ‘micro-aggressions’ of on a regular basis life – the snobby pal who thinks Jews are vulgar,
the earnest neighbour who assures us that he admires the Jewish individuals as a result of
they’re so good at being profitable –
as a result of foolish remarks received’t kill us. And we all know from collective reminiscence,
from household tales, from understanding our personal historical past, what it’s like when
individuals do attempt to kill us.
However now issues have modified. The threats really feel rapid and actual. Because the atrocities in Israel on October 7, safety has been stepped up – within the workplace the place I work, the synagogue I attended final week, the neighborhood centre I used to be on the week earlier than. Even at my dad’s outdated age house.
It typically feels as if nobody could be very a lot bothered if our fears got here true, if there was an assault. If we died as our individuals died on October 7. As a result of it usually feels as if the Jews are blamed for the whole lot, together with our personal deaths. (In case you suppose I’m paranoid, it’s best to see my mailbox at work the place a vexatious complainer is persistently suggesting simply this).
However! I hear you say (even right here within the silence of the
cemetery I can hear you). the struggling of the individuals of Gaza is insufferable, there should be a ceasefire now. All we wish is peace, peace, peace. And sure, it’s certainly insufferable, however how do you obtain peace when the hostages should not free? When Hamas have mentioned that they need to kill each Jew on the earth? We imagine them, why would not we? We do not have the privilege of giving them the advantage of the doubt.
Once I wander by the quiet and exquisite pathways of Willesden Jewish
Cemetery I take into consideration the gravestones of my ancestors in Poland, damaged up and
used as cobblestones by the Nazis. And I see historical hatred stir in some British individuals’s hearts, and a blindfold of ignorance cowl
the eyes of others. I attempt to be optimistic, I pray for peace. However the peace
of the graveyard shouldn’t be the best type and it’s a lot more durable to attain
peace for the dwelling.
