Please note: this event is in the past

North London Cultural Snapshot
Overview
Speakers

Both the Jewish and Iranian communities have gravitated towards North London – some centuries ago and some much more recently.

Learn more about the back stories that led them here and gain new understanding and insight into their celebrations and traditions. Local historian Peter Walton will reveal the stories of the influential Jewish family who moved into Cromwell House on Highgate Hill in 1675 and other colourful characters into the 21st century, followed by Michael Burman who will give you a whistlestop tour of Jewish traditions. Artist and designer Mehrdad Aref-Adib will explain the appeal for North London, and reveal the symbolism and beauty of the Haft-sin table created for Nowruz for the Iranian New Year on 21 March, and the significance of Waterlow Park for London’s Iranian community.  Both Michael and Mehrdad will be around all afternoon at the fair (midday to 5pm) and be delighted to show you  and answer your questions before, during and after!

Speakers

Peter Walton is a Highgate man!  He was brought up in the house he still lives in, in the village, and went to St Michael's primary school. After a period in Africa, working for the British Council,  he joined the BBC as a television producer, and in 1994 set up his own production company. He has made a number of short films on Highgate houses and gardens and leads local history-based tours.
 

Michael Burman, an experienced educator, has a master’s degree in Jewish History and Culture and is a past chairman of Masorti Judaism, a modern traditional synagogue movement with members in and around Highgate. Michael has had numerous roles across both the Jewish community and the wider North London secular community particularly in education and other inter communal activities. He is a Trustee of Lauderdale House and Akiva School in Finchley.
 

Mehrdad Aref-Adib lives in Barnet, or Finchley-Abad as he calls it! Abad is a suffix used in place names in Persian. It translates to thriving and prosperous. He left Iran almost 40 years ago in 1983. A fine art graduate of St Martins and Winchester School of Arts, he also studied Printing and Publishing at the London College of Printing. Mehrdad has run several award-winning websites, including his own blog which received recognition from Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcaster.