Hanukkah

Hackney Council is set to host its first dedicated Hanukkah celebration event, with the lighting of the first candle of the Menorah in the Town Hall Square, this Sunday. 

The event will include a blessing from the local Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE, live music from musician Kate Shortt and a speech from Hackney’s Speaker Cllr Kam Adams. 

Rabbi Gluck, who is also the Chairman of the Arab-Jewish Fourm of Great Britain and founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum, which nurtures relations between Muslims and Jews, said: “The festival of Chanukeh celebrates the miracle of the weak overcoming tyranny of the strong, and light illuminating and dispelling darkness, is a message that all people in Hackney and beyond can relate to and draw inspiration from".

Rabbi Gluck will oversee the first lighting of the impressive, specially-made 12ft menorah which will remain in the Square for the duration of Hanukkah (also known as Channaka). The remaining lights will be automatically lit by nightfall over the course of the following 8 days. 

Entertainment from Kate Shortt will top and tail the festivities. Shortt is a multi-talented performer across piano, cello, singing and comedy. She is a conductor and composer for the Hackney Children’s Singing Festival and has led the Hackney Borough Youth Choir.