Hampstead stages festival of learning and culture to mark 125th anniversary
Event
As part of Hampstead’s 125th Anniversary celebrations, the community joined with Mizrachi UK to host the Spirit of Hampstead Festival. The Festival consisted of a full day’s programming that combined Jewish themes and textual learning with sessions featuring prominent leaders and thinkers in culture and politics. The speaker line-up included prominent lawyer Anthony Julius, Benny Davidson, who was involved in the Entebbe rescue mission, Rabbi Andrew Shaw of Mizrachi, map expert Steven Feldman and local MP Tulip Siddiq.
Evaluation from Adrienne Powell, Chair:
‘The festival was designed to celebrate the synagogue’s 125th anniversary by focussing on modern orthodox principles including Jewish learning, Israel and engagement with the wider community. The range of speakers covered all of these key areas and the audience feedback was excellent on the day. It was a wonderful opportunity for all age groups and backgrounds to come together and share learning, socialise and see Hampstead at its best – as a beacon of modern orthodox thinking.’
Participant Feedback:
- ‘An event of which Hampstead and the wider community can be very proud. Well done and thank you for all the hard work that went in. It certainly paid off.’
- ‘I had a really inspiring and enjoyable morning with original topics and great speakers.’
- ‘Steven Feldman’s mapping session was a delightful surprise. I didn’t really know what to expect and it was well researched, entertaining and educational’
- ‘Benny Davidson was brilliant, the whole room was silent as he was speaking.’
- ‘I heard Rabbi Shaw, whose talk was cogently argued, very well delivered, with an excellent tone and an interesting message.’
