The Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told the monarch they appreciated his visit 'enormously'
King Charles travelled to Golders Green in north-west London today to express his unwavering solidarity with the Jewish community in the wake of recent antisemitic violence.
The monarch visited a Jewish Care charity centre to meet with victims Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, also known as Norman Shine, along with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
The chief rabbi told the King they “appreciate it enormously” that he had made the visit.
King also spoke with members of the Jewish community police force who were involved in responding to the attacks on April 29.
After speaking to the King, Mr Shine, who was stabbed in the neck outside a bus stop during the attack, spoke about the “genuine warmth” he had felt from the King.
“The most inspiring thing was that he didn’t let go of my hand, I mean it was amazing, he is the King but I felt a genuine warmth and concern.”
Mr Shine said that the visit felt “extremely important” for the whole Jewish community.
“We feel we have a genuine friend in the King,” Mr Shine added.
After meeting with the victims, the King greeted the crowds gathered outside the charity centre on Golders Green Road.
He waved to the crowds gathered outside and was greeted with chants of “long live the King”.
King. Charles shook hands with a man who turned 100 on Thursday.
“I hope they give you a good celebration, and I hope you get a card from me,” the King said.
He was then presented with a loaf of traditional Challah bread outside Grodz bakery on the high street, and spoke to children from a local primary school.
The alleged Golders Green attacker Essa Suleiman, 45, has been remanded in custody, accused of three counts of attempted murder.
Suleiman is accused of trying to kill his friend of 20 years, Ishmail Hussein, at his home in Southwark before stabbing the two Jewish victims in the street on April 29.
Suleiman was born in Somalia and came to the UK legally as a child in the 1990s, and was reported to Prevent, the Government’s anti-extremism programme, in 2020, but the case was closed the same year.
