By COLlive and news wires
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who had a good relatinship with England’s Jewish community and was considered a good friend of Israel despite a rocky relationship with Prime Minister Menachem Begin, has died.
Thatcher died Monday after suffering a stroke. She was 87.
The only female to serve as prime minister of Britain, she also was the longest continuously serving prime minister in the 20th century, leading the country and her Conservative Party from 1979 to 1990.
Thatcher was supportive of Israel but had a troubled relationship with Begin, who served two terms in the 1980s, JTA reported. She called Begin the “most difficult” man she had to deal with, according to the Chronicle. She also strongly opposed Israel’s bombing of Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor.
“She was a staunch friend of Israel and the Jewish people,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “She was truly a great leader, a woman of principle, of determination, of conviction, of strength; a woman of greatness.”
Netanyahu, who has often mentioned her as a role model, added that Thatcher has “inspired a generation of political leaders.”
Thatcher had a strong relationship with U.S. President Ronald Reagan and together they fought communism, leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Her Cabinets included several Jewish members, including Nigel Lawson, Malcolm Rifkind, Keith Joseph and Leon Brittan, according to the Jewish Chronicle.
Britain’s outgoing Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has said: “Baroness Thatcher was a giant who had a transformative impact on Britain. She was loved and admired by many in the Jewish community who will miss her deeply. Few people in my lifetime have left such a personal imprint on British life.”
Lady Thatcher, who visited Lubavitch schools in London and was supportive of the Lubavitch Shluchim, spoke with JEM in 1992, about the Rebbe’s leadership.
“I honor the Rabbi and the work he’s done, and the example he set, and the inspiration therefore that he’s given to many many people and will continue to give,” she said in video remarks.
She is not the queen but could of been!
No 23
Well done for pointing out the EMESS!!
Rev Aron Dov Sufrin, Director of education of Lubavitch UK for nearly 40 years also was present with fellow members of Lubavitch UK executive (Rabbi Sudak and Rabbi Vogel) when she was presented with a Menorah.
It’s unfortunate that he was cut out of the picture.
Nothing is ever good enough for people like you. What a truly awful way to go through life. Hope you get some help.
Note: it was Rev. A. D. Sufrin the Head of the Schools in London appointed by the Rebbe, who made the contact with Mrs. Thatcher when she was the Minister of Education.
She stood up to an Argentinian dictator who invaded british sovereign land! Perhaps if we’d have such strong leadership today we’d all be safer. Get over it, there’s no such thing as Malvinas. The Falklands are british forever!
Also, don’t mess with Britain, it cost you last time
I MISS HER!
The islands are the Falklands. That is their name, they have had it for over 200 years, and it is what their inhabitants and the whole world calls them. Your army brutally invaded them, and you’re upset that Thatcher stood up to you and chased you out. Saying she “stole” the Falklands back from you is like Arabs claiming that Israel stole al-kuds and changed its name to Yerusholayim.
she was good with chabad
comment when discussing the “u turn”…. “You turn if you want to – this lady is not for turning”.
WE NEED A LEADER LIKE MARGARET THATCHER IN ERETZ ISRAEL
What’s the kesher between what is going on in America today with the Rasha, Obama, to the wonderful leadership of Margaret Thatcher. He is a Rasha and she was a righteous woman amongst the goyim!
“Watch your thoughts for they become words.
Watch your words for they become actions.
Watch your actions for they become habits.
Watch your habits for they become your character.
And watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
What we think, we become.” ― Margaret Thatcher
She took the “Islas Malvinas” from all of argentinian people and change the name to “Falklands”. We dont like her!
NO- read it! She was a former prime minister of England
She was to England what Reagan was to America. (and they were close friends and both held office at the same time)
Hillary is OT Thatcher. Not even close. and Obama Hashem Yishmor.
She was amazing. She turned a broken down country right around & energized a huge growth in the economy. We need a Maggie Thatcher here to right the disaster Obama is wreaking upon us. No, Hillary is not a Thatcher.
If that’s the case, join the Obama campaign! Our Helth insurance r going up Sky high, because People r illegal alliance, and to help those, in our Cuontry! So what do u say about that???? Duh.
the queen of england?
she did have respect for Jews and for the Rebbe ..
she and her sister saved a child from the holocaust when she was a young child of 12
RIP
She respected the Rebbe and Lubavitch very much and was extremely good the Jews. This is something you can only appreciate when you have a leader who hates the Jews. She was a wonderful leader and very strong and honest one. I have yet to see another politician like her. Alevai that we had such a strongly principled leader in Eretz Yisroel!!!
she had her head on correct
She was a politician. Why are you so excited about what she said. She didn’t care about the Rebbe or Lubavitch. Who cares what she said? I’m not saying that she was a bad person. She cared about herself.
She was prime minister most of my childhood.
I miss London sooooo much! best place ( after israel) in the world!!!!
i love the queen
may she rest in peace!