Students at one of London's biggest Jewish schools came together with barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder to try and break the record for the world's largest human Magen David.
The world’s largest human Magen David was attempted on JCoSS's playing fields, and comprised 531 JCoSS year seven and year 12 students, teachers, and Rinder.
Although it's estimated to take three months to get official confirmation of a world record from Guinness World Records, it is thought to have more than doubled the previous record.
The idea came about last year and was the brainchild of deputy head boy Luke Godfrey, 17, as part of his application for the school’s Head Student Team where he was tasked to create a project on something "we are passionate about.”
The partially formed Magen David (JCoSS)
He told the JC: “At that time, Kanye West was prolific in the news because of his antisemitic statements. As someone who listens to his music, I understand the influence he has had on my generation and how he may lead people to agree with his views, which are inherently wrong.
“So, I decided to create my project to stand up against antisemitism both physically and metaphorically.”
Luke combined his aspiration to stand up against antisemitism with his love of Guinness World Records, the ranks of which he always dreamt of joining.
“For me, it’s a childhood dream come true,” Luke explained. “I’m proud to be Jewish.”
The finished Magen David at JCoSS
The undertaking required “intensive” planning, which included drawing out the “meticulously measured” Star of David out on astro-turf, with each point of the star holding three classes worth of students and enough room for approximately 550 people in total.
Each student who entered the star also had to be sequentially numbered, and it took 45 minutes to get everyone in place. All students were asked to wear their white school shirts and everyone was given a white hat.
The effort also required officially applying through the proper channels to break the world record, an achievement previously held by 277 members of the Jewish community of Hong Kong in 2011.
Guinness stipulates that any attempt would need two independent witnesses, who in this case were Rabbi Miriam Berger of Finchley Reform Synagogue and the Mayor of Barnet, Nagus Narenthira.
Luke said the project “perfectly aligns” with the school’s ethos of Enrich, Achieve, Inspire.
Television personality Rob Rinder was also part of the star and said it was “truly extraordinary” and a “joyous thing to do, to see young learners start their first day of school and sixth form by breaking a world record.”
He told the JC : “What a message too; for us as a community to be alongside each other creating an enduring Jewish symbol of hope, survival, and joy. ”
