Monday, December 18, 2006
In Warsaw, hundreds gather to celebrate Hanukkah and light menorah
Jewish leaders and Poland's first lady lit candles of a large menorah in central Warsaw on Sunday as they celebrated the third day of Hanukkah, or the Jewish Festival of Lights.
The country's Chief Orthodox Rabbi Michael Schudrich chanted prayers in Hebrew before Maria Kaczynski, the wife of President Lech Kaczynski, lit a candle and wished happy Hanukkah to the hundreds who gathered on Grzybowski Square, which lies in the heart of the capital's once-thriving prewar Jewish community.
Israeli Ambassador David Peleg and Warsaw Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz also lit candles and recalled the rich historical ties that link Poles and Jews.
"This is fantastic," said Piotr Kadlcik, leader of Warsaw's small Jewish community. "Not only Jews have come today, but also non-Jews have shown up to have a good time and celebrate with us, which is very important."
Five Jewish organizations helped organize the event.
Nearby, another 200 people took part in a similar ceremony organized by Chabad Lubavitch, an international group of Hasidic Jews that sponsors public menorah lightings worldwide, in front of the Stalinist-era Palace of Culture.
Poland was once home to a Jewish community of nearly 3.5 million people, but some 90 percent of the country's Jewish community perished during World War II in death camps established by Nazi Germany.
Today, the population is estimated to be around 30,000 of Poland's 38 million residents.
Hanukkah, which began Dec. 15, is an eight-day celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees' victory against the Syrians.
http://www.cjp.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=205247
Jewish leaders and Poland's first lady lit candles of a large menorah in central Warsaw on Sunday as they celebrated the third day of Hanukkah, or the Jewish Festival of Lights.
The country's Chief Orthodox Rabbi Michael Schudrich chanted prayers in Hebrew before Maria Kaczynski, the wife of President Lech Kaczynski, lit a candle and wished happy Hanukkah to the hundreds who gathered on Grzybowski Square, which lies in the heart of the capital's once-thriving prewar Jewish community.
Israeli Ambassador David Peleg and Warsaw Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz also lit candles and recalled the rich historical ties that link Poles and Jews.
"This is fantastic," said Piotr Kadlcik, leader of Warsaw's small Jewish community. "Not only Jews have come today, but also non-Jews have shown up to have a good time and celebrate with us, which is very important."
Five Jewish organizations helped organize the event.
Nearby, another 200 people took part in a similar ceremony organized by Chabad Lubavitch, an international group of Hasidic Jews that sponsors public menorah lightings worldwide, in front of the Stalinist-era Palace of Culture.
Poland was once home to a Jewish community of nearly 3.5 million people, but some 90 percent of the country's Jewish community perished during World War II in death camps established by Nazi Germany.
Today, the population is estimated to be around 30,000 of Poland's 38 million residents.
Hanukkah, which began Dec. 15, is an eight-day celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees' victory against the Syrians.
http://www.cjp.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=205247
Comments:
thanks chabad for your great work
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: December 19, 2006 9:46 AM
: December 19, 2006 9:46 AM
