Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., January 26, 2008 Shvat 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:33 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 13:29 26/01/2008 London Jews celebrate U.K. Jewish history in Trafalgar Square rally By Lisa Zilberpriver Tags: London, Jews  Jewish organizations in conjunction with Greater London Authority on Sunday held a mass Jewish celebration in the city's central Trafalgar Square. The annual event, known as Simcha on the Square, was the second of its kind. It was inaugurated in 2006 to celebrate 350 years of Jewish life in Britain by showcasing Jewish food, music, craft and culture. London Mayor Ken Livingstone's spokesman estimated that some 25,000 attended. Advertisement Livingstone attended the rally, and personally greeted participants and vendors. In a statement released by his press office, Livingstone said: "I am very pleased with the success of this year's Simcha on the Square. It is a wonderful opportunity for London's Jewish community to celebrate their culture and contribution to London and for all Londoners to enjoy the many things that London's Jewish community has to offer." The Mayor continued: "It is also a public statement of London government's official recognition and celebration of the important role the Jewish community plays in all areas of London life." The University of London's Jewish Music Institute hosted a Shofar-blowing exhibition on the event's main stage in Trafalgar Square, which attracted 26 male and female participants aged five to 70. Geraldine Auerbach of the JMI told Haaretz the group was pleased with the turnout at the exhibition, which was slightly higher than it had been in 2006. "We're helping young people to understand their culture," she said, adding that youth involvement in London's Jewish activities "could always be better." In between acts, a video was presented featuring Leah Thorn's poem 'Real Jews' recited by children. According to a statement on Simcha on the Square's Web site, the poem aimed to express that "Jews come in all shapes and sizes, colors and cultures, and there is Jewish life beyond North London." The rally's after-party was to feature Emunah, a rap band comprising Jewish and Palestinian musicians from London. Simcha on the Square 2006 commemorated 350 years since the 'readmission' of Jews to London after they were expelled by edict in 1290. Portuguese kabbalist Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel addressed Oliver Cromwell and the Whitehall conference in 1655, and achieved a loosening of the ban on Jews, which eventually allowed for their return. In 1656, the first synagogue in 366 years was founded in the city. More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Slam the Qassam The U.S. wants the UN Security Council to denounce Qassam rockets for the first time. Remembrance day German Chancellor Merkel hails the return of Jewish life to Germany after the Holocaust.   1.   Other humans, too! 16:47  |  Human 14/10/07   2.   they come in all type, mostly war criminals 16:55  |  nobodysacred 14/10/07   3.   # 2 nobodysacred 17:34  |  Israel 14/10/07   4.   # 1 Human 17:35  |  Israel 14/10/07   5.   Hate mail 17:36  |  Yehuda 14/10/07   6.   # 1 Human 17:38  |  Israel 14/10/07   7.   Was Ken Livingston Invited? 17:44  |  Ron 14/10/07   8.   Yes HUMAN but when one is accused of racism it is Not! 17:55  |  Gil 14/10/07   9.   Human # 1 - Are You Serious? 18:03  |  Eli 14/10/07   10.   nobodysacred # 2 - Christians And Moslems Taught Us Everything 18:07  |  Eli 14/10/07   11.   To Posters #1 and 2 18:16  |  GZLives 14/10/07   12.   BRITISH ANTI SEMITISM IS ALIVE AND WELL 18:39  |  Hugh 14/10/07   13.   NoBodySacred 18:55  |  Gil 14/10/07   14.   #1 human 19:10  |  android 14/10/07   15.   north london jews 19:38  |  e 14/10/07   16.   NOBODY SCARED CEPT FOR NOBODY 19:54  |  Vids 14/10/07   17.   Thats normal as long they are British 20:48  |  Tamir Palestine 14/10/07   18.   Clickfool 20:49  |  Baal tekiah 14/10/07   19.   Jewish and Palestinian rock group!!! 20:51  |  Lynn 14/10/07   20.   to the editor 20:52  |  Baal tekiah 14/10/07   21.   Clickfool 22:15  |  Albert Seligman 14/10/07   22.   London Jews 22:31  |  Sara 14/10/07   23.   #21 Lynn: RAP group! Now that IS COOL! 22:35  |  Aaron 14/10/07   24.   Ron #7 00:21  |  schafe82 15/10/07   25.   #15 e 00:39  |  schafe82 15/10/07   26.   London Jews Celebrate # 22. 01:13  |  Jeff Gould 15/10/07   27.   #7 Ron 01:33  |  Boycott 15/10/07   28.   Nobody sacred, especially degenerates 02:21  |  madcow 15/10/07   29.   Shakespear and the Merchant of Venice...yes, long history the jew 02:41  |  Shakespeare`s Son 15/10/07   30.   "Boycott" hasn`t a clue what a "Zionist" IS ! 03:48  |  GZLives 15/10/07   31.   NOBODYSacred..British Moslems kill&plot to kill British Not Jews 04:24  |  PETER SM 15/10/07   32.   British Do Not Hate Jews 05:22  |  Brenda 15/10/07   33.   Shakrespeares Son .Shakespeare wrote fiction.So do you 05:33  |  PETER SM 15/10/07   34.   You Mean Vanessa Redgrave Wasn`t There? 07:36  |  Yosemite 15/10/07   35.   For Albert Seligman # 21 08:27  |  Clickfool 15/10/07   36.   #29 Palestinians return to their homeland?!The Art of Usurping! 09:15  |  Alan 15/10/07   37.   TO HAARETZ 10:00  |  Nicole 15/10/07   38.   PUBLICITY STUNT BY LIVINGSTON 10:10  |  Nicole 15/10/07   39.   TO RON 10:29  |  Nicole 15/10/07   40.   No George Galloway? 11:45  |  Kevin 15/10/07   41.   Jewish pride versus Jewish shame 12:13  |  Hannah 15/10/07   42.   #30 GZlives 12:20  |  Boycott 15/10/07   43.   #38 Nicole 12:28  |  Boycott 15/10/07   44.   #39 Nicole 12:33  |  Boycott 15/10/07   45.   #40 Kevin 12:43  |  Boycott 15/10/07   46.   they come in all tyes, PA Thieves and Murderers 13:00  |  Petra 15/10/07   47.   #36 Alan BRAVO! GREAT POST. SHALOM 13:04  |  Petra 15/10/07   48.   #37 To Haaretz 13:19  |  Petra 15/10/07

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