Members of the armed forces march for the annual AJEX parade to recollect Jewish servicemen and girls ‘who fought and served for freedom since World War I’
A service has been held at the Cenotaph to remember the thousands of Jewish veterans who fought against the Nazis in World War Two.
The annual ceremony of the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (AJEX) was held on Sunday, 103 years after the laying of the first Star of David wreath in 1921 by a group of Jewish ex-soldiers.
The annual Jewish ceremony of Remembrance takes place in Whitehall a week after Remembrance Sunday.
The AJEX Parade is a major cross-communal event in the Jewish calendar.
It saw 3,000 people march from Horse Guards Parade down Whitehall to honour Jewish men and women who gave their lives for their country.
This year’s event marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Operation Market Garden , the Battles of Imphala and Kohima in India.
Veterans and families of fallen veterans walked together alongside Jewish Cadets and the Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade (JLGB) during the annual Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (AJEX) parade.
Mervyn Kersh, 99, D-Day veteran lays a wreath during the annual parade
Members of the Armed Forces march as part of the service which included prayers for both those who served and in support of today’s armed forces
The event also marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Operation Market Garden, the Battles of Imphal and Kohima and the end of the Battle of Monte Cassino, as well as the 10th anniversary of the end of UK combat operations in Afghanistan.
The service at the Cenotaph was conducted by the Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE, AJEX Chaplain Rabbi Major Reuben Livingstone and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg.
Prayers were said in honour of those who served as well as in support of today’s armed forces.
Commemorative wreaths in the shape of the Star of David, were laid by senior members of AJEX, The Board of Deputies of British Jews, religious representatives, fellow veterans organisations and military leaders.
Members of the Armed Forces and Chelsea Pensioners joined the memorial service
Kindertransport survivor Henny Franks, 101, lays a wreath at the Cenotaph
Lord Coaker lays a wreath during the annual parade by AJEX, the Jewish Military Association
The event was attended by veterans and families of fallen servicemen, as well as Jewish Cadets and the Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade (JLGB)
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis giving a speech ahead of the AJEX remembrance parade
Sir Ephraim speaking on the parade. The event also marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Operation Market Garden, the Battles of Imphal and Kohima and the end of the Battle of Monte Cassino
The service at the Cenotaph also included a minute of silence and the national anthem
Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich, Mervyn Kersh, a 99-year-old D-Day Veteran, and Henny Franks an 101-year-old veteran also laid wreaths.
Defence minister Lord Vernon Coaker also laid a wreath in honour of all British Service personnel who have died in conflicts since the Second World War.
A minute of silence was held and the national anthem was sung, marking the end of the ceremony.
AJEX works to continue remembrance of the Jewish contribution to the military, combat antisemitism through education, and provide welfare for Jewish veterans and their families
