Hundreds of international bankers and diplomats — including many ambassadors and charges — joined American Friends of Lubavitch, which together with President Robert Zoellick of The World Bank Group, Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn of The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and President Luis Alberto Moreno of The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), sponsored a special celebration in honor of Chanukah, called “A World of Light” at the IMF Gallery.
An annual Washington tradition, this year saw an unprecedented turnout, despite the later date in December and the heavy Washington schedule many of the participants keep. Representing the sponsoring institutions were First Deputy Managing Director John Lipsky (IMF) – this was a position once held by present Governor of the Bank of Israel, Mr. Stanley Fischer – Pres. Luis Alberto Moreno (IDB), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Managing Director of The World Bank (and former Foreign Minister and Finance Minister of Nigeria), Mr. Dan Liepziger, Vice President, The World Bank.
The wonderful event was entertained by Benny Amar, accompanied by the Zemer Orchestra, which played special Chanukah music and accompanied Benny on his unique musical Tour Around the World, which contained songs in eight languages.
The shamash was lit by President Moreno, and the candles were lit by Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Director, American Friends of Lubavitch, Washington, DC, Mr. John Lipsky (IMF) HE Sallai Merdidor, Ambassador of Israel to the US, and Hon. Danny Ayalon, former Ambassador of Israel to the US.
Everyone was then treated to a special latke bar with various recipes from different regions in the world and various other international specialties like sushi (which may have been particularly welcome to the Japanese ambassador, who was in attendance).
