Jeremy Corbyn lights up Chanukah event in Islington

The leader of the Labour Party helped light up the menorah in his constituency of Islington North on Sunday night.

On the first night of Chanukah, Jeremy Corbyn joined over 600 people at the 5th annual and largest ever lighting on Islington Green.

Hosted by the local Chabad Lubavitch, Jeremy Corbyn said it was “fantastic to see such a great crowd.”

He added: “I want to give a huge thank you to my friend Rabbi Mendy, who often gives me very helpful advance, for bringing the community together to celebrate Chanukah.

We have people of all faiths in our borough. Our strength is the joy of our diversity: Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and people of no faith.”

Rabbi Mendy Korer of Chabad Islington said: “After 5 years of building up our warm and inclusive community here in Islington, it is truly amazing how we have grown to this size, thank you all for joining the event. We hope people will continue to engage in our various communal, education and social events.

Also in attendance was Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South, who said: “A festival like this, which is basically about hope, it’s about optimism and it’s about belief, is a festival for all of us, whatever background we have.”

The event also had a live Klezmer band, Chanukah themed entertainment, latkes and doughnuts.