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Friday 31 May 2013

Candle ban ends annual Aberystwyth holiday for hundreds of Orthdox Jews

From: http://www.walesonline.co.uk

Annual visitors say ban on prayer candles in university accommodation has forced them to seek an alternative holiday destination

Orthodox Jews on holiday in Aberystwyth

Orthodox Jews on holiday in Aberystwyth
Keith Morris
Hundreds of Orthodox Jews who have visited Aberystwyth each summer for almost two decades say they will be forced to go elsewhere because of new health and safety regulations.
It comes after Aberystwyth University – which provides their accommodation – said the holidaymakers are no longer allowed to light candles on a Friday night to usher in Shabbat.
The community which rents around 120 vacant student houses at Pentre Jane Morgan said lighting candles was part of their religion.
Members of London and Manchester’s Jewish communities said they were “very disappointed and upset” at a decision from the University and they will be forced to look elsewhere for accommodation.
But Aberystwyth University said it was refusing to allow candles in the houses on health and safety grounds.
Jewish families visit the seaside town for two weeks in July or August, using a yellow and white striped tent as a makeshift synagogue.
But last year they were told they would only be allowed to stay at Pentre Jane Morgan in 2013 if they agreed not to light candles.
The Orthodox Jews have stayed for the past few years at Aberystwyth University's student village
The Orthodox Jews have stayed for the past few years at Aberystwyth University's student village
Keith Morris
The university said its decision was based purely on health and safety grounds.
“The use of candles/naked flames in all university residences is prohibited,” the university said in a statement.
“This is clearly set out in the terms and conditions which visiting groups are required to sign and abide by during their stay.
“Unfortunately, last year there was more than one incident involving lit candles with this visiting group.
“During negotiations regarding a proposed visit this year the university was asked to remove the parts of the terms and conditions which referred to flames being lit in accommodation and a suggestion was made by the group that covered flames might be more acceptable to the university.
“In reaching its decision not to allow candles to be lit in rooms the university has taken legal and health and safety advice and been in dialogue with the fire service. It has also undertaken its own risk assessment based on the local context and previous incidents.”
The university said it would be ‘delighted’ to host the group as long as it agreed to the amended terms and conditions.
It comes weeks after Aberystwyth suffered a  fire which destroyed a section of roof at the National Library of Wales.
Fire chiefs said the blaze was started accidentally by a blowtorch.
Investigators at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said a propane-powered device used by workers set fire to wood behind some external cladding on a flat roof last month.
Two workers had been carrying out repairs at the library in Aberystwyth when the blaze started on April 26.
As well as fire damage caused to an area used as office space and for new acquisitions, water damage is also said to have affected five floors of the building.
Pieces of an historic collection damaged in the fire have been taken to Oxford by salvage experts – though it is thought  no “significant treasures” had been affected by the blaze.
A spokeswoman for the organisers of the Jewish group said they had found alternative destination outside Wales this summer, but added the group preferred Aberystwyth.
“We have found another place to stay this year, but it’s not as nice as Aberystwyth.
“Lighting candles on a Friday evening is part of our religion and being asked not to light them is like asking us not to breathe.
“We are ready to be safe – it’s in our interests to be safe.”
Last August the community was hit by a tragedy when Rabbi Dov Berish Englander, 47, of Stamford Hill, north London, drowned in the sea off Aberystwyth while on holiday in the town.
In November an inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death.


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