Islington rabbi runs Arctic Circle half marathon to fund seder
Rabbi Mendy Korer braves Finland’s Arctic conditions to help fund an inclusive communal seder in Islington
An Islington rabbi has completed a half-marathon inside the Arctic Circle to help raise funds for a large communal Passover seder in north London.
Rabbi Mendy Korer of Chabad Islington ran the 21km race in Levi, northern Finland, on Wednesday, tackling freezing conditions as part of a fundraising effort to keep the community seder accessible to all.
The run took him across the snowy landscape of Lapland, including climbs along Katkankaturi and a stretch across the frozen Immeljärvi lake.
The fundraiser aims to support a communal seder expected to host around 200 people in Islington. Organisers say that while ticket sales cover roughly half the costs, additional fundraising is needed to ensure the event remains affordable for students, travellers and low-income families.
Korer set a target of raising £100 for each kilometre of the race – £2,100 in total.
Speaking about the effort, he said: “We want to make sure local and travelling Jews can celebrate Pesach seder and that no one should be turned away. Everyone is welcome, everyone is family.”
He added that holding a large Seder in the borough carries particular meaning for the growing Jewish community there.
“Especially a large communal seder taking place in Islington, which is home to a growing and active Jewish community, is particularly meaningful,” he said.
Reflecting on the unusual fundraising challenge, Korer said: “For myself, doing whatever it takes to ensure yiddishkeit is available, personable and welcoming is what I do day in day out – although admittedly during an Arctic run is a little more than the usual!”
As of Thursday, the campaign had raised £1,746, with an additional £247.50 in Gift Aid.
Chabad Islington was founded in 2011 by Rabbi Mendy Korer and his wife Hadasa to revive Jewish life in the N1 area after decades without an active community presence. The organisation now runs a range of programmes aimed at building an open and welcoming Jewish community for residents and visitors alike.
The funds raised from the Arctic Circle run will help ensure the upcoming Passover Seder can continue to welcome anyone wishing to attend, organisers said.
Those wishing to support the initiative can donate here.
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