RBKC Mayor lights Menorah with Imperial College students

  A crowd of well over 100 people gathered outside the  Gloucester Road underground station on Thursday, the 22nd of December for the 4th annual Menorah lighting, marking Hanukah, the festival of lights which celebrates freedom for all people and all races.

The event was organised by Chabad of South Kensington and featured, guest of honour, the Mayor of the Royall Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor Julie Mills.

The Mayor spoke the importance tolerance and unity between peoples and how happy they are to have a Jewish community in Kensington. "Today is the shortest day of the year" noted Rabbi Mendy Loewenthal, director of Chabad of South Kensington "On this day we light the Menorah - each day adding more light".

Before the lighting there was an introduction on the spiritual meaning of the Menorah given by Dr Tali Loewenthal, lecturer at UCL. "Even in the lowest depths of darkness lies light" said Dr Loewenthal.

A beautiful Menorah was then given to the Mayor as a token of appreciation and in honour of the festival. “I shall display this in the town hall” she said. The Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, together with a local child called Sam, lit the Shamash light, the first light of the Menorah. The rest of the lights were lit by Professor Polen from Boston.

The lighting was followed by lively music and dancing by the Yeshivah boys and the dancing Dreidels. Imperial College students at the event were honoured to meet with the Mayor. They conversed together and took a group photo.  At the end of the event a raffle was drawn for a silver plated Menorah, with RBKC resident Esther Judah who is currently a student, being the winner.

For more information on Chabad of South Kensington please visitwww.SKchabad.com