Close to an estimated thousand people attended Oxford's first Jewish Celebration Festival that was hosted this past Sunday, 18th May, in central Oxford on Broad Street outside one of Oxford's oldest colleges, Balliol College, in celebration of Lag Baomer.
The Fair was organised by Chabad of Oxford with the support of Oxford City Council, in partnership with the Oxford Jewish Congregation, as well as the kind support of the Israeli Embassy in London, CST, Heritage Lottery Fund and Flaggs College Store Oxford.
On offer was UK's leading Klezmer band 'She'Koyokh', talented award-winning harpist Fien Barnett-Neefs, Israeli food, a rich variety of Jewish books from Steimatzky and Joseph's bookstore London, as well as a Jewish poster stand, various crafts for children of all ages, pony rides and an expert Jewish scribal stand.
In addition, the acclaimed Oxford Jewish Heritage Exhibition, sponsored by Heritage Lottery Fund, was exhibited, drawing much interest from hundreds of people fascinated to learn about the Jewish heritage of Oxford going back to medieval times.
The Fair was opening formally by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford Councillor Tony Brett, Rabbi Eli Brackman, director of Chabad of Oxford, Vice President of the Oxford Jewish Congregation, Jonathan Bard, and President of the Jewish Society Aya Abrahams. The opening was preceded by a ceremonious announcement in honour of the occasion by the Town Crier Anthony Church.
Rabbi Eli Brackman, director of Chabad of Oxford and organiser of the Fair, said ‘the Fair was a great success beyond all expectations and it helped raise much awareness and pride of Jewish life in the city’.
The Deputy Lord Mayor Tony Brett commented on his blog, ‘I had the great honour of opening this event today. It was great to see so many people there - what a wonderful success!’
Councillor Bob Price of the City Council said, ‘he looks forward to it becoming an established part of the City calendar.’
Science student Joachim Behar commented: ‘it was a lot of fun - thank you for organising such a wonderful event.’
A Faculty member commented: ‘It was an excellent event, achieving something unprecedented in Oxford.’
To view pictures of the Fair - Click here