First Candle Lit at the Kotel

The first Chanukah candle was lit at the Western Wall by Rabbi David Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, outgoing Commissioner Roni Alshich, Mr. Oded Plus The Chief of Police, Rami Brachihu, the commanders of the David and Border Police, the Border Police Company C, and was attended by a large crowd.

The commissioner lit the first candle in the Western Wall plaza and noted that “Chanukah is the spiritual independence day of the Jewish people. Three years ago, at the opening of my term, I pointed out that historically, even after the Hasmonean victory there were still quarrels, I emphasized the history that repeats itself. Independence is a subject that must be maintained and preserved through the building of sovereignty and specifically the knives, an ancient weapon that penetrated and threatened to harm Jewish independence. Then the guards of the walls restored the peace. Israel Police, Jerusalem District, Wiper Fighters are the waveguards of the wave of terror. Unfortunately, they paid quite a lot of their lives, and suffered serious injuries for the rest of their lives, but their self-sacrifice achieved results. And I am excited to see how this broad is full of mouths, how the people of Israel trust the Israel Police. ”

The rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites welcomed the participants and the outgoing commissioner, saying that “the essence of the Jewish people – to spread light. Light does not mean quantity. “A little of the light repels much of the darkness.” Enough little candle to illuminate great darkness, and enough with a small to spread a great light in the world. As is true of an entire people, they are true to every one of us. It is impossible to imagine at all how much light one person can spread. But sometimes we get to know a man who, even when he is hiding behind narrow slits, gives out a great light. The rabbi of the Western Wall thanked the police commissioner and police officers for their contribution to the security of the sensitive area and the Old City.

Rabbi David Lau lit the central candle in the prayer hall and said that “the people of Israel made efforts and found oil for one day, and the Holy One, blessed be He, made a miracle that he would light for eight days. We will also strive to be good and pray that God will see our effort and will soon be credited with the great light in this holy place. ”

Mr. Oded Plus, director general of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, said: “Yes, yes, yes now. We must stick to what held us as a people, to connect to the true experience that is the compass and the leader of the road in those days and in this time. ”

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