A highly anticipated UK concert by Jewish-American Hasidic singer Benzion "Benny" Friedman was canceled by the venue, which cited “security concerns” as the reason.
The Am Yisrael Chai tour, organized by ACM Events, had been in the works for months. Known for spreading messages of Jewish pride through his music, Friedman was scheduled to perform on January 6 in London under the banner of the “Jewish Solidarity Concert.” However, the Clapham Grand, a historic Victorian music hall, pulled out of the event just one day after tickets went on sale.
Benny Friedman speaks about the cancellation
“For several years, London has consistently topped the list of cities requesting Benny’s performances,” Friedman’s production company told COLlive. “That’s why two concerts were planned in England.”
Despite this enthusiasm, organizers faced significant challenges securing a venue for the London concert, encountering resistance from venues unwilling to host a public Jewish event or be associated with pro-Israel sentiments.
After overcoming these obstacles, the Clapham Grand was finally confirmed as the venue. On Sunday, Friedman’s team announced two concerts: one in London on January 6 and another in Manchester on January 7. The response was electric, with organizers describing the excitement as “overwhelming” as fans eagerly purchased tickets.
But in a shocking twist, the venue’s management informed organizers on Monday that they were withdrawing from the agreement and canceling the London concert. Their reason: “security concerns” related to the nature of the event.
“We are completely shocked by this decision and deeply disappointed that such a reality for the Jewish people remains possible in 2024,” Friedman’s production team said in a statement.
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Despite this setback, organizers remain undeterred. They are working tirelessly to secure an even larger venue in London and have vowed to proceed with the performance, delivering a message of unity and strength to the Jewish community. “We are determined to find a bigger venue in London,” the production team stated. “We’ll see you in London and will provide updates soon.”