The he UK is doomed

Me too.

I can't really see anti semitic thoughts here and certainly no one has condemned the entire Jewish community in that area. But a wedding with 400 guests is enough to make those of us who are following the rules very cross, sad and exasperated.

I was very interested as to how the school was used on this occasion. Who holds the keys to the building, what connection did the attendees have with the school, who on the management team allowed this? The caterers who used the school kitchen and the musicians who rigged up their gear must also have known they were doing something very wrong.
At almost any other school the head, bursar or business manager would have been suspended by now and investigated for gross misconduct. It puts shame on the school and sets an appalling example to the pupils.

I have yet to read anything anti-semitic on this thread.

It is getting ridiculous when we cannot say that someone or a group of people have shared idiosyncracies that can cause practical problems for other people but have to pretend that everyone is exactly the same, that no one varies from anyone by a jot or tittle.

Why is it acceptable to condemn people who have no shared religious beliefs and hold a party during a lockdown but not criticise them if they do have a shared religious belief and that belief is why they broke lockdown?

Do you actually know why they broke lockdown MOnica? You are making assumptions about their belief which may not be true.

I don't think the OP was intended as anti-semitic. However, some of the comments which followed are, in my opinion, anti-semitic. I'm amazed that people appeared not to be aware of the Haredis and seem to regard them as a weird sect.

They broke lockdown rules because they're idiots, not because they're Orthodox Jews. Idiots come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colours and religions. They should have the rule book thrown at them just like it would hopefully be thrown at all idiots.

I condemn a group of selfish people who have put mine and other's lives at risk because they, or their community leaders, think that the rules do not apply to them. Is that ok for those of you who are trying very hard to see anti-Semitism on this thread? Please don't try to derail this or dismiss my anger. I have a son living in London and this behaviour puts him at risk.

FGS !

I only commented on the Haredi/Jewish element firstly because the BBC made that suggestion throughout the article but secondly because it was covered on our local news a lot during the first lockdown how badly these communities were affected by infection and death, I remember being really saddened that it had gotten into young learning disability home/community in the area too. It must have directly affected a lot of people so to go ahead with a big wedding seems as I said, surprising. I'm sorry if that offended people as I can see I made the assumption it was a gathering within the community. I see the venue says it hires out to anyone who wants to hire it, so I may have been wrong to assume. I apologise and it is always good to point these things out to people so they can check their thinking and behaviours and educate themselves a bit better.

Fwiw I see groups of women everywhere in groups dropping children off at schools, certainly before the lockdown. I always found it a bit shocking as I have hardly mixed with anyone but I suppose people mitigate their own risks. I think aswell we have been led to believe it doesn't matter so much when you are outdoors. I remember sitting on a bench to eat my lunch (alone) and a woman sitting right next to me and feeling a bit about it!

I googled Haredis to inform myself, nowhere has anyone referred to them as a weird sect other than yourself growstuff

They are not a weird sect, but they are defined as ultra orthodox, that is among the groups that place the strictest interpretation of the bible at the heart of their lives.

I cannot think of a single faith that does not have groups adhering to the strictest interpretation of their faith, while every faith will have those at the most liberal end as well.

These ultra groups, whether Jewish Christian or Muslim, and I am sure others, do tend to live together, socialise and even work together and, in some cases, educate their children separately. To state that is not to make assumptions, these are generalisations that make these groups recognisable. These groups often have beliefs that conflict with civil authorities.

It is my respect for other people's religious beliefs that lead me to think that when conflics occur between civil and religious authorities and civil authority must prevail, as it must with the COVID regulations, compliance is more easily obtained if you can work with other people's beliefs.

This does not mean that in cases like this they should not face the same legal penalties as other people.

JaneJudge

I only commented on the Haredi/Jewish element firstly because the BBC made that suggestion throughout the article but secondly because it was covered on our local news a lot during the first lockdown how badly these communities were affected by infection and death, I remember being really saddened that it had gotten into young learning disability home/community in the area too. It must have directly affected a lot of people so to go ahead with a big wedding seems as I said, surprising. I'm sorry if that offended people as I can see I made the assumption it was a gathering within the community. I see the venue says it hires out to anyone who wants to hire it, so I may have been wrong to assume. I apologise and it is always good to point these things out to people so they can check their thinking and behaviours and educate themselves a bit better.

Fwiw I see groups of women everywhere in groups dropping children off at schools, certainly before the lockdown. I always found it a bit shocking as I have hardly mixed with anyone but I suppose people mitigate their own risks. I think aswell we have been led to believe it doesn't matter so much when you are outdoors. I remember sitting on a bench to eat my lunch (alone) and a woman sitting right next to me and feeling a bit about it!

Before the first lockdown, many Haredis weren't aware how serious the situation was, as they're not encouraged to watch television or access social media.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/26/how-a-haredi-community-in-london-is-coping-with-coronavirus-photo-essay

GrannyGravy13

I googled Haredis to inform myself, nowhere has anyone referred to them as a weird sect other than yourself growstuff

I know perfectly well they're not a weird sect. However, the person who posted the article about the man in the plastic bag obviously does think that.

The son of my husband's step-sister is married to a woman from the North London Haredi community.

MOnica I don't need to Google who Haredis are.

I read that growstuff some lovely happy photographs amongst the devastation of this pandemic

Their religion has not led to a conflict with civil law. They are idiots and that's all there is to it.

Every single one there should have been fined. There is simply no excuse. They can't claim they didn't know and that goes for anyone holding mass gatherings regardless of ethnicity or religious background.

If the fines aren’t severe enough to send out a warning to everyone in the UK these gatherings (of whatever type) will continue.

The rules need to be enforced otherwise we might as well have no rules.

And a tap on the wrist for half a dozen attendees just isn’t good enough. The others who weren’t fined will just ‘crowdfund’ and donate say £20 a head to the ones facing a £200 fine!

Ursmstongran, I agree 100%

Hopefully, when the police have the full list of attendees, more fines will be given out. Many guests fled as the police arrived. Stable door shut too late!

These are not the first to arrange a wedding with more than the allowed numbers.

I googled to find out more about this current one. I found at least 7 other weddings that have broke the restriction rule and the organiser + others being fined. This is just over the past 5 months. I fear that parties and weddings are going to keep happening.

Fines should have been enforced as soon as announced. Why wait a week?

I agree muse the new fines should be implemented immediately. They all clearly knew what they were doing was wrong or they wouldn't have been so quick to run away as soon as the police arrived.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/22/organisers-of-london-wedding-attended-by-hundreds-face-covid-fine?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

This article provides a bit of clarification about numbers involved and condemnation by Jewish leaders.

Condemnation by Jewish leaders is all very well and good, but someone at that school has acted irresponsibly and I think the buck stops with them too.
I don't buy it that no one from the school's management knew anything about the school being hired out for a wedding. On the website it even says that the school can be hired for staff weddings.
The local mayor wrote to all schools, including this one, to say that no events must take place during covid times. Was the letter regarded as unimportant?
Even if a private lettings agency were dealing with bookings, it would be very unusual for there to be no communication with the school regarding an event being held.
Moreover the school's OFSTED report comes up with the following criticism:
"While the school’s policy on respecting other people included those of different faiths or with a disability, it does not encourage respect for all citizens living in modern Britain."

On and on it continues, I wonder what their excuse will be?

In my opinion they are acting like self entitled spoilt brats!!!!

I have just read this, this morning in the DT, from Michael Deacon - one of the treasons I read the DT.
As defences go, it’s less than watertight. Last week police caught a group of young people holding an illicit party at a house in Hampshire
And what excuse did the attendees offer ?
Wait for it.....
They didn’t realise there was a pandemic. Because, in their words: “We don’t watch the news. “

The party was broken up, and one man fined. No further action will be taken

Deacon goes on
. A pity, in a way, because I’d have loved to hear the accused expand on that defence in court.

Genuinely, Your Honour. I had no idea. I mean, I did kind of wonder why all the pubs were shut, and the schools, and the restaurants, and the hairdressers, and most of the shops, and everyone was wearing these funny masks. But I forgot to ask. My teachers always said I was a bit of a dreamer ...
OK the last bit is imagined, but the story was true

It just makes me so cross MawBe the majority are staying home away from loved ones, then there is this mindless minority who are carrying on without a thought for anyone else.

I want to hug my AC and GC, both here and those abroad, and I just cannot see it happening anytime soon!!!

Treasons *MawBe^? Now I'm worried. I didn't know it was actually treasonable to read and quote the Torygraph?