Chanukah at City Hall

by: SJ reporter

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has pledged to make celebrating Chanukah an annual event at City Hall.

The announcement comes following the lighting of the menorah in a ceremony overseen by Chabad of Hendon.

"I am pleased to be able to host the lighting of the Menorah at City Hall. Chanukah is an important period in the Jewish calendar commemorating the Jewish struggle for religious freedom," said Mr Livingstone.

"In recognition of this, I intend this to be an annual event at City Hall. I would like to wish London’s Jewish communities a very happy Chanukah," he added.

Rabbi Gershon Overlander of Chabad said:

"It is very gratifying and highly appropriate that the capital of this great country which vigorously protects the religious freedom of all its citizens has chosen to erect a Menorah here in London City Hall."

Jewish deputy mayor Nicky Gavron added: "In lighting the Menorah at City Hall, we recognise the value of this freedom and we also acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable contribution that the Jewish community has made to London's culture, economy and history. I hope that the City Hall Menorah will become part of the London landscape every Chanukah for years to come.