Countdown to Balfour 100: Tickets on sale for Simon Schama lecture

The countdown to the centenary of the Balfour Declaration continued this week as tickets going on sale for the community’s flagship event.

Hundreds are expected to attend a major lecture delivered by historian Simon Schama in central London in an occasion live streamed to thousands more around the globe.

The event will take place on 1 November, the eve of the anniversary of Britain becoming the first country to express support for a home for the Jewish people in Palestine. It will feature an introduction from Lord Rothschild, whose ancestor Walter received the Declaration from then foreign secretary Lord Balfour.

Zionist Federation executive director Arieh Miller said: “Simon Schama is a hugely impressive and well known historian and orator and the opportunity to hear him speak and mark Balfour 100 on behalf of the Jewish community is one certainly not to be missed either in person or via the live stream”.

The lecture falls under the auspices of the Balfour 100 group, a collection of 23 organisations spanning the community. It reported this week that more than 60 grassroots events were being planned nationwide.

The week of the centenary will be bookended by special services at the New West End synagogue where both Lord Rothschild and Chaim Weitzman were members on 29 October and at the country’s oldest shul Bevis Marks, which will host a havdallah ceremony on 4 Nov.

Miller said: “We are all absolutely delighted with the grassroots take-up to mark and celebrate the centenary of the Balfour 100. From North to South, East to West, communities are taking the opportunity to mark this significant anniversary in the history of Israel and the British Jewish community.”

• Tickets available at balfour100.com and VIP reception tickets at the Zionist Federation’s website.