THE Mayor of Barnet joined celebrations for a Jewish festival at a Hendon museum this week.

Councillor Anthony Finn and his wife, Anita, were greeted by around 50 guests at the Jewish Military Museum in Harmony Way on Monday, at a special reception held to celebrate Chanukah, the eight-day Festival of Lights.

The museum, which was founded in 1996 by the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (AJEX), honours members of the Jewish community who have served in the nation’s armed forces over the past 350 years.

Dr Arnold Phelops, national chairman of AJEX, Ron Shelley, chairman of the Jewish Military Museum and Councillors Brian Coleman, Mark Shooter and Lynne Hillan, leader of Barnet Council, also attended the event.

Mayor Finn said: "This museum houses such an important part of history and we must encourage more people and more kids to come and see it – I think the move will be good for this."

He added: "It’s a wonderful credit to the borough – Carry on with the marvellous work you are doing here."

He then lit the Chanukah candles while everyone joined in with the traditional Jewish hymn, Maoz Tzur.

Guests were invited to look round the museum’s artefacts including photographs, uniforms, medals and weaponry dating from the Battle of Quebec in 1759 to the current war in Afghanistan.

The museum also has a computer database for visitors to search for Jewish friends and relatives who have participated in Britain’s defence.

Vice president of AJEX, Henry Morris, who was made honorary president of the museum three weeks ago said: “We are a credited museum serving an educational purpose which benefits school children, students and the general community. It was great to have so many people here today recognizing what we do.”