Ilford UK Celebrates Chanukah

After more than 20 years, The Gants Hill roundabout, Ilford, Essex, UK watched the lighting of a brand new, modern and bright Menorah.

Working together with Rabbi Moshe Muller, Mr Alan Grant – a longtime supporter and friend of Chabad Lubavitch Ilford, designed, created and sponsored the new menorah.

Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin said, “This new project has excited the whole community and motivated the community to turn out in largest numbers ever for the public lighting which took place on the street adjacent to the Giant Menorah on Motzoei Shabbos. We invited friends to comment on the new menorah, and exciting comments came in their hundreds expressing ‘how proud we all are’ to be Jewish and associated in one way or another to Chabad Lubavitch locally.”

Being the fifth Chanukah light, Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin and Mr Boruch Mitchell, treasurer and longtime friend of Chabad, gave the children 2 coins for Chanukah Gelt, one to give to Tzedokoh and one to keep for themselves. Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin made the Brochos, and lights were kindled, by local dignitaries, friends and supporters.

Over 300 people gathered together for the public lighting of the Menorah in Gants Hill, Ilford Essex UK. It was all hands on deck when the assembled returned to the Chabad house for refreshments music and dancing and children’s activities.

Three large public menorahs were placed in the local area, with smaller ones in the town hall, local shopping mall, and Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s super stores.

All the Menorah projects were organised by Rabbi Moshe Muller, the programme’s and assistant director at Chabad of Ilford.

Some 400 people gathered together at Chabad of Ilford’s annual Chanukah on ice extravaganza. Young and old joined with their families, and many new people came to enjoy the exclusive use of the local ice rink, skating to Jewish music around a giant 9ft Menorah.

Food stalls were a hit with hot soup, latkes, hot dogs and doughnuts available for all. The highlight was the lighting of the Menorah by the three local Shluchim, Rabbis Aryeh Sufrin, Moshe Muller and Odom Brandman assisted by 5 Bochurim from the Yeshivah in Brunoy, France.