The celebration is the 33rd day of the mourning period known as the Counting of the Omer which spans the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot.
Figures published yesterday by the Board of Deputies showed that 440 British Jews have now died of Covid-19.
While many in the strictly Orthodox community have remained vigilant throughout the pandemic, there have been frequent smaller events – including a wedding in a house in Golders Green and reports of mourners gathering in large numbers for funerals – which have raised concern.
It is also thought that the annual Purim festival in March, which brought large numbers of Jews together in the final days before lockdown, was another factor in causing the virus to spread among the community.
