Menorah Shines Despite Revolution

Despite hundreds of thousands of demonstrators and armed security forces filling the streets of the center of Kiev, Ambassadors and foreign officials from the US, UK, Israel, Germany and Switzerland joined the local Ukrainian business community and Ukrainian officials at the annual Chanukah party and Menorah lighting hosted by Raphael and Devorah Rutman at the exclusive five star Intercontinental Hotel in the center of Kiev.

The evening, which fell on the fifth night of Chanukah this year, began with opening remarks by the host, Raphael Rutman. He thanked all of the participants for making the effort to come to spread the universal message of the Chanukah Lights, in spite of all the street closures, blockades and demonstrators shouting in the square right outside the hotel.

Rabbi Meir Stambler, president of The Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine, talked about the importance of hope and religious freedom that Chanukah represents and the importance of tolerance and light in times like these, with thousands of people demonstrating in the streets. He also described the extensive activities of the organization throughout the year in Ukraine, and thanked the Ukrainian authorities for the tolerance they show towards the Jews in the country.

Among the ambassadors who spoke were Mr. Itzchak Kogan – Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine, Mr. Simon Smith, the British Ambassador to Ukraine, Mr. Christof Weil, the German Ambassador to Ukraine and Christian Schoenenberger, the Swiss Ambassador to Ukraine. They spoke about the importance of freedom of speech and democracy that Chanukah stands for, as well as thanked the organizers for the opportunity to join in the celebrations and expressed greetings and blessings from their countries.

After viewing a short video about Chanukah and present day miracles, the Menorah lighting began.

Each guest was given a candle to light and hold during the ceremony, while the Ambassadors, government officials and other VIP’s were honored with helping to light the Shamash of the Menorah by uniting their candles together. The large Menorah itself was lit by Kiev City Council member Mr. Alexander Loifenfeld, who said the brochos in Hebrew and translated them into Russian.

After the formal lighting was completed, the guests were invited to join in a traditional Chanukah buffet including latkes, handmade doughnuts and many other delicacies. Despite the atmosphere on the streets of Kiev, people stayed on and on, savoring the warm Chanukah atmosphere and the delicious food prepared by Devorah Rutman.

In addition to the annual Menorah lighting, large menorahs were placed in the lobbies of all of the main hotels in Kiev. Every night of Chanukah there were lightings in each hotel, conducted by Raphael Rutman, together with hotel guests and invited Kiev community members, including rabbis, government officials and businessmen. This year, on the 8th night of Chanukah, the Deputy Foreign Minister from Israel, Mr Zeev Elkin, along with the Israeli Ambassadors from Austria and Ukraine and many other Israeli government and OCSE officials lit the menorah in the main lobby of the five star Fairmont Grand Hotel in Kiev.