How it all came to be
In planning the Arachim Conference in London just before Chanukah, the UK organising team looked for a way to link Jewish day schools throughout Europe. Following an initial idea by David Lerner, the United Synagogue Agency for Jewish Education worked on "Chanukah Olamit" - a simple way of bringing thousands of Jewish children together at one moment in time.

At the Conference, organised by the European Council of Jewish Communities, the idea was greeted with acclaim and schools from Sweden to the South of France, from Britain to Armenia agreed to take part.

What we all did

At 10am gmt on Friday 6 December, seventh day Chanukah, schools in countries,some of which, 10 years ago, had no Jewish education to speak of, gathered together in front of chanukiot. Where possible, they logged on to the webcamera which is focused on the Kotel Hamaaravi (the Western Wall) in Jerusalem. Lighting the chanukiot and singing Maoz Tzur linked them all together for one moment in time. Teachers took photographs and e-mailed them to London where JEDmaster, Mark Creeger placed them on these webpages dedicated to the purpose. Information to all of the schools has been sent via Jednet, the Agency's Europe-wide education e-mail newsletter which reaches some 700 teachers and educators.

Commenting on Chanukah Olamit, Simon Goulden, Executive Director of the AJE, said: "This has been a simple yet enormously powerful demonstration of Jewish unity. It is truly humbling to realise that there were children in Jewish day schools celebrating together where a decade ago Jewish life was all but extinct."

For more information contact Simon Goulden at simon@aje.org.uk