“UNFORTUNATELY we are in a period of history with a lot of division, and it’s more important than ever to support one another.” Elizabeth Harris-Sawczenko, director of the Council for Christians and Jews (CCJ), has, among other reasons, a family history of fighting religious intolerance and supporting refugees.
Elizabeth’s great uncle was the Rev Dr Isaac Levy, Senior Jewish Chaplain in the British Army during World War Two, who witnessed the horrors of Bergen-Belsen after its liberation. After the war he spent decades advocating for interfaith cooperation, and was heavily involved with the CCJ.
“I grew up as a young child going to his house and listening to his stories and meeting Christian clergy,” says Elizabeth. “He had this real commitment to building relationships and to interfaith engagement that was very inspiring.”