28 September 2006
A celebration of Jewish life in Britain was held in Trafalgar Square, central London, on 24 September showcasing an array of Jewish music. “Simcha on the Square” was organized as part of a year long celebration of events to mark 350 years of the British Jewish community. Organized by the Jewish Music Institute (JMI), an independent arts body based at the University of London the celebration was open to all of London’s residents and visitors. A wide array of Jewish music graced the stage, from the eastern European act, She’koyokh Klezmer Ensemble to the Sephardic melodies of Los Desterrados. The Three Cantors – Steven Leas, Gedalia Alexander and Jonathan Murgraff – together with the London Jewish Male Choir and the Ronnie Scott Legacy Quartet paid tribute to the late legendary maestros of Jazz. Israeli Ladino diva Mor Karbasi and violinist Sophie Solomon, with her band, Oi Va Voi, performed a wide array of world music – Jewish Style and Rivers of Babylon played Iraqi Jewish music while British International klezmer clarinettist Merlin Shepherd delighted the large number of people gathered in the afternoon sunshine.
Geraldine Auerbach, director of the JMI and organizer of the event, said: “What could be more symbolic of the community’s integration in the life of the capital than klezmer bands and cantors performing under Nelson’s Column?” Although the Office of the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, contributed funds to the event, Livingstone himself was not invited following many years of strained relations with the British Jewish community. Instead, his deputy Nicky Gavron addressed the gathering. Last week, the Board of Deputies of British Jews accused the mayor’s office of insensitivity after it issued a press release highlighting the amount of the mayor’s funding for the event.
