21st December 2022 saw our first public Hanukkah event outside the Forum to make good use of our recently acquired magnificent 10 foot high Hanukkiah. We had decided to keep things simple and safe, using battery lanterns rather than the more dramatic flaming kerosene lamps we have sometimes alarmingly used in previous years – and everyone seemed happy with the result.
There was a crowd at times of over 100 people at the event, stirringly led by Daniel and which again was attended by the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff of Norwich and their consorts. The evening ended with hot spiced fruit juice and doughnuts- which all seemed to go down very well!
It was good to be able to share our celebration of a joyous Jewish festival with a wider audience in our city.
On a rather more sombre note, Holocaust Memorial Day is coming up on the 27th January and it seems that we will be involved in 3 events going on in our region. Many members may be familiar with the annual service held at St Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich and some members of the Synagogue will again be very much involved in the organisation of this.
This year we were approached by Lowestoft Town Council and Daniel has agreed to help with their Holocaust Memorial Day event again being held at Lowestoft Railway Station. We also know that some of our members will be at an event taking place in the Arts Centre at Southwold starting at 12 on the same day.
It would be fitting to have as many of our members and friends and their families as possible attending and supporting whichever of these events is most appropriate for you, whether again here in the very centre of our city or over by the coast, and I would encourage you to do so.
John