Experience a candlelit Islington Green this Chanukah

Chabad Lubavitch Islington invites Jewish and non-Jewish communities accross London to commemorate the first night of Chanukah in a spirit of interfaith, tolerance and cohesion. The centrepiece of the celebration is the lighting of the menorah, a nine-branched candelabra, by Rabbi Mendy Korah. It’s the second biggest public menorah lighting in the UK, after Chanukah in the Square, which takes place in Trafalgar Square, and has attracted crowds of up to 700 people.

Last year, Chabad had to downsize to Highbury Fields and swap their freshly baked doughnuts and latkes for pre-packaged treats. It was a bittersweet moment for the Islington community who nevertheless continued to remember the ancient legacy in song and socially distanced dancing. At the end of the night, members of the community took the leftover doughnuts to Highbury and Islington station, where they handed them out to children and homeless people.

The festivities are in full swing this year, with numerous activities and attractions. Create shadow puppets with the Little Angel Theatre and recreate the triumph of the underdog in an educational and entertaining way. Afterwards, the Jewish Museum London will provide beeswax and wicks so you can cast a light into the November night with your own personalised candle. All workshops are free, so the only currency flying around is Chanukhah gelt, which will be distributed to children to use for the game of dreidel.

GhettoPlotz headline the event with their klezmer-house sound that's straight out of the noughties. They’ve ignited crowds for over a decade with a wide range of musical influences and styles, most notably hip-hop, jungle and folk. Following GhettoPlotz is Oi Va Voi, who spearheaded a nationwide movement fusing Britpop and klezmer. It's a thrill to turn up the tunes again after a difficult year, in a double triumph over ancient enemies and the pandemic.

By Betsy Cohen

Photos by Jeremy Freedman

Islington Menorah Lighting takes place Sunday 28 November. 5-7pm. FREE. Islington Green, N1 1XR. jewishislington.co.uk/chanukah