London's Jews would be able to celebrate Hanukkah publicly this year after the London Council of Havering decided on Friday (December 1) to enable the Jewish winter holiday to push through.
The announcement came after an earlier notice last Thursday (November 30) that plans for Hanukkah were canceled due to the "conflict in the Middle East," as per a discussion with the London Jewish Forum.
The meeting discussed factors that might disrupt Hanukkah, such as pro-Palestine protesters, as well as fears that the menorah installed for the celebration would be vandalized.
With the latest announcement, Hanukkah celebrations will now proceed as planned on December 12.
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Rabbi Mendy (R) and the mayor light the candles on a menorah on the first night of Chanukah (Hanukkah), the annual Jewish festival of lights on Islington Green in London, November 28, 2021
Keeping the Menorah Lit
The London Jewish Forum and Essex Jewish Community Council issued a joint statement after meeting with the Havering Council at the Town Hall, stating that they had been able to reassure the council of all the concerns outlined in the council's initial statement.
"We had a very constructive meeting to discuss our concerns and I fully appreciate why this is such an important installation for the Jewish community," Havering Council leader Ray Morgan said. "We look forward to... the permanent [menorah] installation and our first Hannukah ceremony. We also look forward to continuing to work closely with the Jewish community and other faiths on our commitment to a cohesive and inclusive borough."
Meanwhile, the London Jewish Forum's Daniella Myers told the Jerusalem Post that her organization appreciated the help of the council to settle the Hanukkah celebration and their "careful consideration" of Jewish views on the matter.
"The London Jewish Forum was able to provide a wider picture, which had important implications beyond Havering," she added. "Our community has been listened to and as a result, we are very pleased to say the planned installation of the Havering Menorah will be going ahead."
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