German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday expressed his unwavering support for the Jewish people as he lit the first candle of Chanukah on a huge menorah in front of Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate.
“I wish that the candle of Chanukah will shine far beyond this square and much longer than just for the eight days of Chanukah,” Scholz, wearing a black velvet yarmulka, said in the center of the German capital.
“Chanukah stands for hope and confidence. Both are especially needed these days,” the German chancellor said. “The Hamas terror attack on Israel has shaken us all deeply.”
“Each and every one of us must clearly oppose this terror,” added Scholz, who has been an outspoken supporter of Israel and has stressed many times Israel’s right to defend itself against the militant Hamas group.
Berlin Chief Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, whose great-grandfather was murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust, called on Jews and non-Jews alike to confront the hatred with love.
“The answer is not to retreat, but on the contrary: more light, more joy, more Jewish consciousness,” the rabbi said to cheers from the crowd.
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