London – A professional scribe will present Prince William and Kate Middleton with a specially-made scroll in Hebrew and English for their upcoming royal wedding on Thursday.
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Mike Horton will hand over the scroll he made himself to British Ambassador Matthew Gould at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.
“A friend came up with the idea of writing a scroll for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine,” he said on Sunday. “We went to a rabbi in Hod Hasharon to phrase the scroll and one refused, but another agreed. He took out the Jewish stuff, as I asked, and I’m going to present it on Thursday, after which it will be put in the diplomatic pouch and delivered to Common House next to Buckingham Palace.”
While Horton is not a sofer stam, an ordained Jewish scribe, he has produced scrolls in the Jewish tradition for special occasions beginning with his own wedding in 1973.
To the best of our knowledge, neither the bride nor the groom have any links to Judaism, which is why the 63-year-old British-born Jerusalem resident was careful to omit the religious language found in ketubot, the traditional Jewish marriage contracts.
“I don’t think I would get an invitation to the wedding and if I did, I’m not sure I would go,” Horton said. “They’re not my crowd of people, plus it’s on a Friday morning and I have to get ready for Shabbat.
Perhaps I could receive a note and I could use that for advertising.“
We live in a mixed up mish mash world. Moshiach where are you when we need you so desperately?
Maybe the Royal couple can repay his kindness by presenting him with a specially minted Million-dollar bill without all the “english stuff” that would make it cashable. I guess he could use it for advertising!
The strangest thing about this story – which in NO way whatsoever reflects on VIN – is the fact that the “Royal Wedding” is not scheduled for Thursday at all!
On the contrary: the chupa has long been planned for 29 April 2011. One hopes that the mesader kidushin will be happy with any royal minhagim there may be and that he will not get broigez or walk out.
This presents an interesting situation. Do you honor someone with a precious and dare I say, primarilly a Jewish relic to own in their honor? Is there a halacha about scribing a Torah scroll for a non jewish leader? Perhaps clearly it is given to the kingdom. I can say that I never expect any of the couple or others in the court to read the scroll, but does this mean that they must return the favor and arrange a public reading of the scroll at the least once? I say they may wish to consider a very such thing. But is this a foolish way to promote our Jewish position or is it a wise way to make a non jewish leader feel that he has our complete blessings in his future as we hope it to be intricately woven with the future of the Jewish people living in his kingdom. Very thought provoking.
I think it’s nice. It’s just a gift, more unusual, & it’s not a Kosher Kesubah but I think it’s a positive gesture. What’s the harm? Nobody could say it’s for a chuppah!
I am sure it’s going to be tossed in the pile of all the other presents these two will receive. They are not even going to know about it, let alone appreciate the time and effort that went in to making it. This article is just a fluff piece.
I guess the royal couple are not to be outdone by Chelsea Clinton and her chosson.
This is just Mike Horton’s way to get free publicity. The royal couple will receive thousands of gifts that will only be seen and acknowledged by their staff.
Believe it or not, the English Royal Family, also known as the House of Windsor, claims descendancy from Dovid Hamelech.
I read somewhere that services of a Mohel have been used for the English Royal family for many generations, every one of them has a Milah. I found it interesting that they would do this, and have it done by a Mohel. You never know, perhaps there is more to this family than meets the eye. Blessings for their upcoming Simha!
Nice example of chanifah.
There’s a belief among some that Prince William is the anti-Christ, this will add fuel to their fire.