Yesodey Hatorah girls’ school in Stamford Hill, where at least 150 people celebrated a wedding last weekend. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Getty Images
England’s lockdown rules are being flouted in ultra-Orthodox Jewish areas, with large weddings taking place each week and schools continuing to operate, according to community insiders and local residents.
Last week police discovered 150 guests celebrating a wedding at the Yesodey Hatorah girls’ school in Stamford Hill, north London. The school denied knowledge of the event, which was condemned by the chief rabbi and the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.
On the same evening, police attended a hall in Belz Terrace, a few minutes’ walk from the school, following reports that a large wedding was taking place there. However, officers were satisfied that the event was a communal service, which is permitted, rather than a wedding and no action was taken. According to a communi
Dozens of illegal Jewish Orthodox weddings with up to 300 guests have taken place in London during England s third national lockdown, whistleblowers claimed today.
More than 50 ceremonies have allegedly taken place in the capital during lockdown with lookouts used to raise the alarm and money put aside for potential fines.
Sources told Jewish News the weddings were happening all over with the bride at one in Stamford Hill, North London, said to have been positive for Covid-19.
It comes after a school being used as a Covid testing centre was revealed to have hosted a secret wedding for 150 guests which had to be broken up by police.