BARNET: First Israeli market hailed a great success (From This Is Local London)

BARNET: First Israeli market hailed a great success

2:41pm Tuesday 16th December 2008 in

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Israelis flocked to Barnet this week to take part in the borough’s first Israeli street market.

The British Zionist Federation invited more than 30 traders from Barnet’s twin town of Ramat Gan to set up shop in Finchley Road, Temple Fortune, following previous successful French and German markets.

Thousands of people turned up to sample the food, jewellery, toys, ceramics, arts and crafts, clothes and holiday advice on offer on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Alan Aziz, executive director of the British Zionist Federation, said: “We discovered that Barnet was twinned with a town in Israel and decided we should celebrate the fact by bringing a bit of Jewish culture to Barnet streets.

“We knew the French market had been a great success so we shamelessly decided to copy it.

“I’m delighted we did because it has been a great success.

“We’ve had huge numbers of people here, both Jewish and non-Jewish, and despite the cold everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.

“We’ve had lots of cultural mixing, with people very curious to learn all about the products and the situation in Israel, which is always good.”

Mr Aziz said the Federation, which organised the event with help from Friends of Ramat Gan, is hoping to repeat the market in the summer, when the weather would be “less of a shock” to their Israeli guests.

Councillor John Marshall, Mayor of Barnet, braved the elements to visit every stallholder individually.

“Although the weather was very cold I was delighted so many shoppers came,” he said. “Barnet has been twinned with Ramat Gan for many years.

“I was delighted this practical example of twinning was so successful.”

Eva Greenspan, chairman of Friends of Ramat Ghan, said: “It is the first ever Israeli market in the borough, but we very much hope it won’t be the last.”