Hannukah celebrated in parliament
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
29.12.2016 13:27
The Hanukkah Jewish holiday has been celebrated in the Polish Parliament building with the lighting of the menorah by Rabbi Shalom Ber Stambler from Chabad-Lubavitch Poland, and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ryszard Terlecki.
Ryszard Terlecki lit the menorah during the ceremony on Thursday. Photo: Katarzyna Czerwińska/senat.gov.pl
Terlecki said that the Hanukkah ceremony, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a reminder of the great heritage of the Jewish nation whose history has been closely linked with Poland for centuries, with the culture of the two nations being mutually intertwined.
Rabbi Shalom Ber Stambler said that the ceremony this year coincided with the Christmas holiday celebrated by Poles.
“What brings us together in the first place, though,” he said, “are the universal values which are symbolised by light, that is goodness, wisdom and tolerance.”
Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.
This year, it started on 24 December which coincided with Christmas Eve. This happens once in several decades.
(mk/rg)