British Orthodox Jews Celebrate Lag BeOmer Hadlukah in London Amid Rising Security Concerns

Thousands of British Jews gathered in north London on Tuesday to mark the Lag B'Omer ​festival, a celebratory event in the Jewish ‌calendar, after weeks of heightened tension and fear following a string of antisemitic attacks. At one event in the area, men in ultra-Orthodox ​Jewish dress packed out a school playground to ​dance and pray together around bonfires as ⁠hundreds of women and children watched from nearby streets ​and some crowded onto the balconies of residential buildings. The ​annual festival is traditionally celebrated as a joyful pause in a solemn period of the Jewish calendar. Bright yellow high-visibility ​police vests stood out in sharp contrast to ​the traditional black coats and hats of those taking part. Tuesday's festival ‌took ⁠place days after two Jewish men were stabbed in the street - the most violent incident this year in a series of attacks that have put the security of ​Britain's 290,000 Jews ​into the ⁠spotlight. Community leader Levi Shapiro said the event was slightly different this year, referring ​to antisemitic incidents across the area. "There will ​be ⁠that extra element of prayers, a moment of unity and reflection for the Jewish community, and of course, ⁠a ​community that stays strong together ​in the most challenging times," he said.