Returning for its eighth year, the Annual Islington Menorah Lighting took place on Sunday 2 December 2018 at Islington Green. Marking the first night of Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights, the event was a free celebration for the entire community, attracting record attendance. Hundreds of people, Jews and non-Jews, joined the celebration from Islington and beyond.
The focal point of the event was the ceremony of lighting the nine-branched Menorah. This year’s Islington Menorah was designed by local artist Kaeridwyn Eftelya. The Menorah was lit by the Mayor of Islington, Cllr Dave Poyser and Yvonne Harris in memory of her father, Raymond, the ‘zeide’ (grandfather) of Islington who passed away a few weeks ago.
Other attractions included: live grand piano performance by Stephen Ridley, glow in the dark shows, singing of traditional songs, Chanukah fairytales, dreidel playing, arts & crafts with the Jewish Museum London, and face painting. There were also hundreds of free doughnuts, four different flavors of latkes and Chanukah gelt for everyone to enjoy.
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Thank you to Islington Council for supporting this event with the Local Initiative Fund.