News
TRH celebrate Channukah with 180 primary school children in Hendon
12th December 2007
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall celebrated the Jewish Festival of Channuka with 180 children from London schools today.
Their Royal Highnesses joined the children from 13 primary schools for a series of activities at Hendon Hall in North West London, to mark the eight-day festival which ended today.
Their Royal Highnesses were greeted on their arrival by Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks and were welcomed by a performance of a Hebrew welcome song accompanied by an accordion.
The Prince and The Duchess then went around the hall, sitting down with the children and joining in their activities.
The Prince made a candle with pupils from Simon Marks School in Stamford Hill, North London.
Mark Garfield, the school's assistant head, said he planned to take it back and put it on show for the other children.
The Duchess started decorating a picture frame with youngsters from Wolfson Hillel Primary School in Southgate, North London.
Teacher Sharon Radley said: "She was very good at sticking, she didn't mind getting glue on fingers."
Pupil Talya Sher, aged eight, added: "She was friendly. We were talking to her about how to make it. She made one herself."
After helping the pupils with traditional Channuka activities, such as candle-making and decorating "dreidel" spinning tops, Their Royal Highnesses lit the eight candles of the candelabra.
The Prince thanked the children and guests and said he hoped they had not caused "much disruption".
His Royal Highness added: "It has been a wonderful treat for both of us to come and share with you in this very important Festival of Channuka about which I have heard a great deal, but never had a chance to take part in."
The Prince also promised to try playing with the dreidel he had decorated himself when he got home.
His Royal Highness said: "Some of you tried to teach me how to play the game, so I shall at least go away with some vague idea so I might be able to play when I get home."
Their Royal Highnesses then sat down to listen traditional songs and watch Israeli dancing performed by pupils from Rosh Pinah School in Edgware, North West London.
Both The Prince and The Duchess tapped their feet during the dances.
They listened to a recital of the story of Channuka by children from Wolfson Hillel School and Kerem School in Hampstead, North West London.
The Prince then put on a skull cap and Their Royal Highnesses each lit four of the candles on the candelabra.
Tradition says that when the Temple candelabra was relit there was only one day's worth of olive oil left - but it miraculously burned for eight days.
In November 2007, The Prince attended a fund-raising dinner for World Jewish Relief. Click here to read the story.
Click here to read about The Prince's personal faith and his work to encourage inter-faith dialogue.