By COLlive reporter
A large Chanukah Menorah was lit near the historic Clock Tower in Podgorica, the capital city of Montenegro. The Jewish traditional lights stood seamlessly at the foot of one of the very few Ottoman landmarks that survived the bombing of Podgorica in World War II.
While it was a monumental moment, very few were allowed to be present during the lighting ceremony due to Covid-19 restrictions in the Balkan country.
Instead, the event was broadcast by state television and on Zoom to individuals and homes throughout the small mountainous country located in Southeastern Europe.
Montenegro’s Chief Rabbi Ari Edelkopf and his wife Chana, the local Chabad Shluchim, send in advance of the event a Chanukah kit to 170 homes which included a personal Menorah, candles, a latke do-it-yourself kit, donuts, dreidels and chocolate coins.
The gift box, sent with the assistance of the European Jewish Association, carried with it blessings for a Chanukah message in several languages.
Rabbi Edelkopf encouraged locals to “share the lights” by showing their Menorah to others. “Lots of young people were snapping some selfies with a menorah and uploading on their social media,” he said.
Joining him in lighting the Menorah at the Clock Tower were US Ambassador to Montenegro Judy Rising Reinke and the European Union’s Ambassador Oana Cristina Popa. Both extended their warmest greetings to all the Jews of Montenegro.
Greetings were also shared virtually by Yahel Vilan, Israel’s Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro and Nimrod Rinot, the Honorary consul of Montenegro to Israel.
This year, for the first time, there will be a Menorah lighting on a nightly basis, the rabbi said. The coastal cities of Kotor, Herceg Novi, Tivat, Budva, Bar and Ulcijn will host lightings.
In addition, a large outdoor digital billboard is broadcasting photos of Chanukah Menorah from cities all over the world.
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