Ealing Marks Final Night of Chanukah
Cross-community celebration takes place outside Town Hall
Police officer Muhammed Dar lights a Chanukah candle
December 23, 2025
More than 150 residents from across Ealing and beyond gathered outside Ealing Town Hall on Sunday 21 December for a cross-faith celebration marking the eighth and final night of Chanukah.
Despite steady rain, the crowd watched as all eight candles of a giant Menorah were lit in a joint event hosted by Ealing United Synagogue and Ealing Council. Attendees included members of the Jewish community from across London as well as local Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Sikh residents who came to show solidarity following a difficult week for Jewish communities worldwide.
Ealing Synagogue Chair Gary Barak said the turnout was “overwhelming” and especially meaningful in light of the recent terrorist attack on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, in which several Jewish people were killed. One of the victims was the first cousin of Ealing’s Rabbi Vogel, who nevertheless led the ceremony. “We have so many faiths here… and that means so much to us,” Barak said. “Chanukah should be a very happy time, and after such an awful attack, standing together tonight is incredibly powerful.”
The candle-lighting was shared among eight representatives from local civic, faith and emergency services: Ealing Mayor Cllr Anthony Kelly; Deputy Council Leader Louise Brett; Synagogue Chair Gary Barak; Synagogue Vice Chair Jonathan Glass; Metropolitan Police Faith Liaison Officer Muhammed Dar; London Fire Brigade Borough Commander Ben Moore; Darus Salaam Mosque Imam Mujeeb Mirza; and Ealing Synagogue Council member Alison Shindler.
Glass said the group chose to honour the victims of the Bondi attack during the ceremony. “It just seemed the right thing to do,” he said. “When atrocities like this happen it’s vital we all stand together and become even stronger, and the wonderful turnout tonight demonstrated that so well.”
Imam Mujeeb Mirza described it as “an honour” to be invited to light one of the candles. “We are delighted to stand together with our dear friends of the Jewish community, and we will continue to support each other, especially during these tragic times,” he said.
Following the outdoor ceremony, attendees were welcomed into Ealing Council’s offices at Percival House for traditional Chanukah refreshments, including doughnuts and latkes, hosted by the council alongside Rabbi and Zelda Vogel.
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