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Charedi organiser of O2 Chanukah concert defies rabbinic ban over mixed seating
Ari Feferkorn says charity event featuring Israeli star Ishay Ribo will bring all strands of the community together
November 18, 2021 10:40
Ari Feferkorn says charity event featuring Israeli star Ishay Ribo will bring all strands of the community together
November 18, 2021 10:40The Charedi promoter of a Chanukah concert in aid of hospital kosher meals says he is undeterred by a rabbinic ban on the event because it will have mixed seating.
Ari Feferkorn — the Stamford Hill-based businessman behind the Jtrade expo and the founder of Bedside Kosher — is bringing over top Israeli singer Ishay Ribo to London’s O2 Arena next month.
In a statement, the rabbinate of the Union of the Orthodox Hebrew Congregations declared that “concerts of this kind are forbidden”.
Mr Feferkorn said there would be a small section among the 8,500 seats reserved for those requiring separate seating for men and women.
But he is counting on support from across the Jewish community for what he says will be “the biggest Jewish Chanukah party in the UK”.
He said he had chosen Ribo because of his appeal across Israeli society. “He connects to all communities — with the Charedi community, the modern Orthodox and the secular community. In Israel, he has all types of events going on.”
The platinum-selling artist incorporates the words of Jewish prayer into his lyrics and in 2020 was among the top five male artists streamed by Israelis.
On Facebook, Ribo said he was “happy and excited” at the prospect of his first visit to London, where he will be performing on December 5, the last night of the festival.
Mr Feferkorn said that in the UK, there was “no mass community event where all Jews get together for music or comedy”.
He wanted people from across the community to “come and enjoy”, highlighting the broad representation at the recent Jtrade, where exhibitors ranged from Satmar to secular.
“We are one community at the end of the day. That is the beauty of the show, that we have every type of Jew there together. I think this is something we should be very proud of.”
And for Covid safety, “every person coming to the venue needs to have a negative test or be fully vaccinated”.
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