Chanukah Celebrations

Tuesday, 11th December 2007

Chanukah falling in term time this year enabled Immanuel pupils to celebrate in school with a variety of activities, which included daily candle lighting ceremonies for all years, a fundraising Chanukah Fair, a lunchtime Chanukah ?Jam? session and the end of term Chanukah concert.

The Chanukah Fair was held on the 4th December. Stalls selling doughnuts and jewellery were popular as were the demonstrations of how to make olive oil and candles and the ?Guess the Teacher? contest. The event raised over £1100, of which £900+ will go to the school?s chosen charities and £200 to supporting the new kosher shop in Cracow. This term the Shevat Achim Committee raised over £4000. It hopes to achieve a target of £20,000 before the end of the academic year through its ambitious plans of fundraising in the Pesach and Shavuot terms.

On Wednesday 12th December, the Chanukah Lunchtime ?Jamming? Session brought into school world-renowned session musicians, Darby Todd (drummer) and Derek McIntyre (Bass guitar) who played alongside Paul Greenberg (vocals) and Dean Greenfield of band, Pure Orange. Darby Todd is one of the UK?s top young drummers and is a member of the band, "Protect the Beat" alongside Tony Smith, Winston Blissett, and Derek Nash. His credits include performances with Jerry Springer, the Spice Girls and Take That. He has also been a member of the band, Massive Attack, most famously renowned for their Buffy the Vampire Slayer soundtrack. Derek McIntyre is a bass guitarist who has played with Jamiroquai and Robbie Williams.

The group, sponsored by Aish Hatorah, provide an example of how at one and the same time you can be proud to be Jewish and play a major role in the wider world. Paul Greenberg, Pure Orange vocalist said ?so many kids are afraid that if they are seen to be proud of being Jewish, then they will ?miss out? on the ?real world?, but I am here to show them that this just isn?t the case. As a musician, I have the opportunities to play sessions with the best people in the industry, as we have shown here at Immanuel, without compromising on my ability to practise my Judaism and be proud of it.?

A separate report on the Chanukah Concert will be posted at the beginning of next term.