Chanukah 2025 in Islington
- Chabad Islington
- Dec 28, 2025
- 4 min read
We all woke up on Sunday morning to the horrific news of the terror attack at the Menorah Lighting in Sydney Australia. Locally we did not have time to process emotionally, that had to come later. We had a large event planned on Islington Green for that afternoon at 4pm, a full security review had to be conducted. Thankfully most of our pre-existing layers of security were robust enough to respond to the new level of threat and concern. In addition, the multiple phone calls, whatsapp messages and emails started coming in. Concerned locals wanting reassurance if it is safe to attend, and journalists looking to talk to the Rabbi and/or attend the Menorah Lighting.
This news blog attempts to share a full round up of Chanukah in Islington. It starts with a pre-chanukah update of the Islington Menorah Lighting being featured in Good Food Magazine (over 1.36 million monthly readers). Unfortunately, one of our banners on Islington Green was vandalised.
But most importantly was giving out Menorah sets to the community, in total, we gave out over 100 menorahs and over 150 boxes of candles.
At some point during the morning Territorial Police checked in on our synagogue and event planning. As one of the officers left, he wished me 'chag sameach'. My reply 'oh, do you need a Menorah?', he gladly accepted one.
The Islington Menorah Lighting, a public celebration of the first night of Chanukah on Islington Green took place on Sunday 12 Dec 2025. The annual event is funded by the Islington Council's Local Initiative Fund and private donations. Local Jews and the wider public, adults and children were welcomed to the park with free hot cocoa, doughnuts and potato latkes, face painting and array of chanukah crafts, including a bespoke designed candle making craft.
Rabbi Mendy Korer, director of Chabad Islington welcomed the Mayor of Islington, Councillor Jason Jackson and MP of Islington South, Emily Thornberry to greet the crowd.
Jason said "We have to remember that Islington is amazing because of people like you. Love wins above every other thing, no matter whatever it is".
Emily said "It’s a really dark time, and antisemitism in Britain is rising as it is across the world and in Islington. If you look at the number of people who have come, they come because of hope, they come in solidarity, they come because of belief".
Rabbi Mendy said "We make a point to light the Menorah once nighttime has begun, yes there might be incredible darkness in the world, yet we are supposed to respond by making more light. See the darkness, Be the light".
The music entertainment included a klezmer performance, traditional Chanukah and Jewish tunes, with a highlight of local resident Ariel magically transporting attendees by singing 'Yerushalayim Shel Zahav', Rabbi Mendy's hit song 'Sweet Chanukah', and concluding with Tanya's GhettoPlotz super chanukah tracks.
In the lead up and during the event, there were a number of interviews, including The Times, BBC Radio, ITV, ITN and The Jewish Chronicle. The BBC Radio interviewer was Nick Robinson for the BBC Today programme (which played on Monday morning)
BBC Today Programme:
At the end of the interview with Nick, he mentioned that he has Jewish background, his mother's parents fled from Germany. Rabbi Mendy gave him a Menorah which he accepted and said he will treasure it, Rabbi's reply 'don't treasure it, light it'.
That evening, Nick shared on social media the following post (which was seen by over 150k views)
Nick followed up the post with a very special article in The Jewish News explaining why he chose to light Menorah this year "So why did I light candles this year ? The short answer is because Rabbi Mendy Korer gave me them at the Islington community Chanukah festival last Sunday. I had just interviewed a family about how they felt about the Bondi beach massacre. What they said moved me to tears".
The Jewish Chronicle wrote a lovely article capturing the energy and emotion of the Islington Menorah Lighting
The following morning, on Monday during BBC Woman's Hour, Alissa Timoshkina was interviewed about her new cookbook Kapusta. She began by talking about Chanukah and the Friday night Chanukah dinner she will be making with Chabad Islington.
A local Islington woman who has not been to a Shabbat dinner in over 50 years heard the interview and decided to join for Shabbat. Her feedback afterwards 'Thank you Mendy. Last night was so wonderful and lovely. To meet your beautiful family and to be welcomed so warmly into your home. ...I find I am actually studying loneliness.....I sincerely hope 2026 will bring better things but as you know.....life is so tricky. Have a great Sabbath rest....my neighbour and friend. X'
On Monday afternoon a very touching gesture of some flowers left in front of the Menorah followed on with an interview with GB News
Monday evening was Chanukah Games night at the Chabad House. A new neighbour came by to pick up a Menorah. He just recently moved from Sydney and emotionally shared how his family personally knew 7 of the people that were killed. We invited him to light Menorah together with all of us.
Events took place on each evening of Chanukah. On Wednesday evening we organised a King's Cross Menorah lighting, a lovely occasion. In attendance included people that came out to celebrate Chanukah for their first time this season.
We would like to conclude with a special thank you to the local Metropolitan Police and the Community Security Trust (CST) whom both extended themselves the ensure we celebrated Chanukah safely and securely.
