Chief Rabbi sings with 5,000 schoolchildren for ShabbatUK

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has completed a nationwide tour of 25 primary schools, where pupils have been learning and performing a brand new version of much-loved Shabbat song Lecha Dodi.

The anthem has been composed and recorded by Israeli music stars Shtar especially for ShabbatUK – which takes place on 1 and 2 March – when the tune will be sung for the first time in synagogues across the UK.

The ambitious school tour started in Manchester, where the Mirvis was welcomed by hundreds of pupils at King David Primary School. He visited an additional 24 schools, from Liverpool to London, and leading the sing-a-long as to encourage participation in Shabbat UK.

We ask schoolchildren what they like about Shabbat…

All the school visits were filmed, with the content being used to create a music video that will feature more than 5,000 children.

The brainchild of Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein of South Africa, who established the Shabbos Project, ShabbatUK has now firmly established itself in the UK after four years, encouraging people to engage with the day of rest in a meaningful way.