By COLlive reporter
The President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic participated in the Menorah lighting in front of the historic Clock Tower in the capital city of Podgorica, alongside the Balkan country’s chief rabbi and other faith leaders.
“Thank you to the Chief Rabbi of Montenegro, Rabbi Ari Edelkopf and the religious Jewish community of Montenegro for the invitation and the opportunity to personally greet you on the occasion of Hanukkah, and I congratulate everyone who celebrates this great holiday,” the president said.
The giant Menorah was lit in the presence of a crowd of both Jews and non-Jews, which included dignitaries and ambassadors. Children received Chanukah Gelt from Mr. Moshe Morohovski, and delicious latkes and sufganiyot prepared by Shlucha Chana Edelkopf were served.
“During eight days and nights, Jews in Montenegro, Israel and around the world proudly celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, with a reminder of how the Maccabees and their followers, guided by their devotion to their people, their freedom and faith, managed to perform a miracle, that through a great return the victory to their roots,” said Djukanovic.
“Unfortunately, we are also witnessing the side effects of those processes, the resurgence of all kinds of nationalism, antisemitism and populism that are associated with the darkest stages of world history. Montenegro is also going through a delicate phase of its democratic development. But we are proud of our multi-ethnicity, multi-religious and multicultural harmony, and the fact that there is no antisemitism in Montenegro,” he said.
The president added that “we are proud of the fact that Montenegro is one of the two countries in Europe where there were more Jews at the end of World War II than at the beginning.”
“Let us bow to the shadows of all the people who sacrificed their lives for the freedom enjoyed by today’s generations. May this holiday bring health, peace and prosperity to the homes of our Jewish friends and all people of goodwill. Happy Hanukkah – Hag Hanukkah Sameach,” concluded Djukanovic.
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