Arutzsheva:

The Conference of European Rabbis (CER), a continent-wide organization of Orthodox rabbis, is holding its 50th anniversary meeting in London, England this week. London is the city in which the conference was founded. The CER organization-wide meeting, which is held every two years, also served to mark the return of Jews to the British Isles 350 years ago. The Prime minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, spoke with the rabbinical delegates in his 10 Downing Street office Monday evening, confessing pride in his friendship for the Jewish people and for the State of Israel. Former Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau was in attendance at the conference and addressed Prime Minister Blair, briefly reviewing the history of Europe’s Jews, culminating in the foundation of Israel. “We know that despite all the difficulties standing in your path, you continue to maintain true friendship with the Jews of England and in relation to Israel, and we know how to appreciate such friendly relations, for we have not been blessed with many like it.”