30 November 2023 , 19:35
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An annual ceremony to mark the traditional Jewish holiday of Hanukkah has been cancelled due to fears of vandalism and "inflamed tensions" amid the war in Gaza.
Havering Council in east London had planned to mark the upcoming Jewish celebration by erecting a symbolic menorah outside its town hall but decided to take the "difficult decision" to cancel its installation to avoid "further inflaming tensions" within communities. In a letter to the Council leader Ray Morgon, local Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell voiced his "grave concern" at the decision. He said: "Should this be true, this would be a grave insult to the Jewish community in Romford."
The King holding a menorah during a recent visit to a Jewish community centre (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)Town hall bosses have called accusations of antisemitism "categorically untrue" and said they hope a longer-lasting installation can remain in place next year. Romford Rabbi Lee Sunderland told Havering Daily: "This is an opportunity to stand up to the hostility that would silence Judaism or any form of diversity and celebrate it to its fullest. This may be a Jewish festival but it is a lesson for the whole world and for every generation. Most especially, please let us celebrate this in public and begin to bring the citizens of Havering together now."
Havering Council has dismissed any accusations of antisemitism as "categorically untrue", adding that "such statements are likely to incite further unrest in our communities". Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, the Community Security Trust (CST) has received reports of a record 1,747 antisemitic incidents across the UK, making it the highest-ever total reported to the Jewish charity across 54 days.
Havering Council's statement read: "We appreciate this is a hugely sensitive issue but in light of escalating tensions from the conflict in the Middle East, installing the candelabra now will not be without risk to the Council, our partners, staff and local residents. We would also be concerned with any possible vandalism or other action against the installation. Due to an increase in the number of hate crimes in Havering, both towards the Jewish and Muslim communities and after consulting with the Leader of the Council, we believe it would be unwise to move forward with the installation, which could risk further inflaming tensions within our communities.
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"When we started work on the installation no one could have foreseen the recent international events and we have been fully committed to installing the candelabra with a number of council teams working to support it. Sadly, some are politicising this and making accusations of anti-Semitism. This is categorically untrue and such statements are likely to incite further unrest in our communities. The council flew the Israeli flag in solidarity following the heinous terrorist attack against the people of Israel and we continue to stand by our local Jewish communities."