For the first time ever, a public Menorah has been lit at the infamous Clifford’s Tower in York, England, home to the worst anti Semitic massacre on British soil.
The event was spearheaded by Lubavitcher Police Officer Moshe Rothstein, who has been using his position to initiate multiple Menorah lightings with various different Police forces, speeding to message of Chanuka to both Jewish officers and also their non Jewish counterparts.
Special Inspector Rothstein traveled from Manchester for this historic event, together with Shliach Rabbi Daniel Walker, Rabbi of Heaton Park Shul in Manchester.
The event, which attracted attendance from the Jewish communities in Harrogate and York as well as Leeds and Manchester, was held at the foot of Clifford’s Tower – a significant location in British Jewry.
One of the worst anti-Semitic massacres of the middle ages took place there in 1190. The city’s entire Jewish Community was trapped by an angry mob inside the tower at the castle. Many members of the community chose to commit suicide rather than be murdered or forcibly baptised.
The present tower was built 60 years after the massacre, but it’s possible that the earth mound may still contain evidence from 1190. The planting of daffodils – whose six-pointed shape echo the Star of David – on the tower mound, provides an annual memorial around the anniversary of the massacre.
Superintendent Mark Khan, York Commander, said: “This celebration was the first of its kind for us in North Yorkshire Police, and we look forward to making it an annual event.
“We wanted to mark Hanukkah as part of our commitment to being a more inclusive organisation and having a deeper understanding of all the communities we serve.
“We were delighted to stand together in solidarity with the local Jewish Communities.
“The location was very poignant, because although it’s easy to say the atrocities that happened there are in the past, we know that Hate Crime is very real in today’s society, and people are still being targeted for their race, religion or beliefs.
“This will not be tolerated, and I want to send a clear message that we are here for everyone and no matter who you are or what your belief is, we will work hard to make sure you are safe in the city”.
Special Inspector Moshe Rothstein from GMP, who was key in organising the event, said: “This has been an absolute honour and privilege working together with North Yorkshire Police in getting this significant Hanukkah event off the ground, especially at such a historical location in British Jewry.
“I’m in no doubt, Jewish communities nationally will have felt true commitment and support from NYP in marking such a historical event.
“When the candles were kindled, I couldn’t help but think deeply of all those Jewish victims who seemed to have lost hope and now, all those years later we have lit up the city of York with these beautiful Hanukkah kindled, spreading goodness & kindness for a brighter tomorrow.”
That’s very special! Who knows if a brocha has been made in York in the last hundreds of years since the cherem in it began.
To Wow – yes, after the cherem was lifted, my father A”H took a trip to York and made a point of proclaiming his Jewishness. I don’t remember the full details, but he and my mother made a public display of being frum. I think they had a picnic or something right there, and he spoke to other visitors about the massacre. He always spoke to goyim about Yiddishkeit wherever he traveled. As a side point, I wanted to study at the University of York, but my father wouldn’t allow it, since the cherem was still in effect at that… Read more »