A London council has sparked anger from Jewish community leaders after bosses announced it would not be putting up its annual Chanukah menorah installation.
The London Borough of Havering, which is independently run, announced it would not be putting up the display “in light of escalating tensions from the conflict in the Middle East”.
Each year to mark Chanukah, the council normally installs a nine-branched lit candelabrum outside Havering Town Hall in Romford for the duration of the festival.
The London Jewish Forum expressed “deep dismay” at the council’s decision and has written to Havering Council leader Ray Morgan and chief executive Andrew Blake-Herbert.
In the letter, co-chair Adrian Cohen and director Daniella Myers, wrote “The placement of public menorahs at town halls, supermarkets, and even Trafalgar Square is simply a celebration of the festival and our community’s place in this city.
”The stated reasons for cancelling the installation of the menorah in Havering appear to show a distinct lack of understanding of this and have regrettably undermined Havering’s relationship with its local Jewish community.”
Andrew Rosindell, the Conservative MP for Romford, has also recently written to Cllr Morgan to warn that not lighting the candles “would be a grave insult to Jewish communities in Romford”.
Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin, exec director of Chabad North East London and Essex, told LBC: “The response from the community as a whole has been really one of surprise and anger to some degree as well.” Rabbi Sufrin also said he found the decision “extremely sad”.
A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is shocking. At a time when nearly seven in 10 British Jews feel afraid to express their identity in public, this is a monumental dereliction of duty. If people are offended by the sight of Judaism, then the council should be looking to educate, if not ostracise, those people, not appease them.
The Menorah at Trafalgar Square for Hanukkah last year. Havering council have decided against erecting a similar installation this year over fears of vandalism (Photo: Getty Images)
“Last Sunday, British Jews marched in pride, shoulder to shoulder with our allies, in central London. We can never appease those who hate us by hiding who we are. Havering council must reverse this cowardly decision at once.”
In a statement, the council hit back and accused Jewish groups and campaigners of “politicising this and making accusations of antisemitism”. They said: “This is categorically untrue and such statements are likely to incite further unrest in our communities.”
The statement added: “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.”
They continued: “However, due to an increase in the number of hate crimes in Havering, both towards the Jewish and Muslim community, 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.”
The council will still mark the beginning of Chanukah on December 7 with a "temporary instillation and event" which will be taken down after. The specific details of this have not been released.
