Historic First As Menorah Lit at Clifford’s Tower in York, England
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 travelled from Manchester for this historic event, together with Shliach Rabbi Daniel Walker, Rabbi of Heaton Park Shul in Manchester.
The North Yorkshire Police published a press release, saying “We celebrated Hanukkah with the local Jewish community on Sunday in York. 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.”
Special Inspector Moshe Rothstein from GMP, who was key in organizing 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.”
