Vice Premier Recalls a Past Secret

Vice Prime Minister, Ambassadors, Foreign diplomats and Ukrainian Government Ministers and Officials joined the local and foreign Jewish business community 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 eighth night of Chanukah, 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.

The program started with a special memorial service in honor of all those who lost their lives fighting for freedom and democracy around the world, mentioning in particular the many people who have been killed in Ukraine in the current conflict in the East of the country as well as in recent attacks in the US and Israel. A minute of silence was held to honor their memory.

The evening continued with R. Rutman talking about the importance of hope and religious freedom that Chanukah represents and the importance of tolerance and light in times like these, with war still raging in the east of the country.
The evening continued with Rabbi Meir Stambler, president of The Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine, relating a message from the Lubavitch Rebbe about the importance of Chanukah and its relevance to our generation. 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.

The next speaker was Mr. Stepan Kubiv, the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.

He spoke about how he remembers in 1958, as a student in Lvov, Ukraine, he came upon his professor lighting a Menorah in secret. He was very curious to know what he was doing, as well as what the holiday symbolized.

He recalled how his professor explained to him the importance of adding candles each day to add increasingly more light to the world, as well as the particular order we use to light the candles. Mr. Kubiv was then presented with a silver Menorah as an everlasting symbol of freedom and light.

Among the foreign diplomats and government officials who spoke were Ambassadors from the USA, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, the EU, the UN, Canada and Israel. Ukrainian officials included Mr. Oleksandr Danylyuk, the former Finance Minister; Mr. Vitali Klitchko, Mayor of Kiev; Mr. Evgeniy Chervonenko, former Governor and Minister of Transport; Mr. Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the former head of the Ukrainian security services (KGB) and current parliamentarian; and Mr. Boris Lozhkin, former head of the Presidential Administration. They all spoke about the importance of freedom of religion, 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 respective countries.

After viewing a selection of short videos about Chanukah and present day miracles, the Menorah lighting ceremony began. Each participant in the audience was given a candle to hold and light during the ceremony. The eight Ambassadors present were invited to the stage where they lit their respective candles and formed a human menorah together with the Mayor of Kiev, Mr. Vitali Klitchko as the Shamash. The Ambassadors and government officials were honored with helping to light the Shamash of the Menorah by uniting their candles together. A 93 year old member of the Jewish community and veteran of the Second World War who managed to flee from the Nazi invaders on the last train before occupation, Mr. Pesach Shengait, was invited to say the blessings and light the menorah.

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. The guests lingered, savoring the warm Chanukah atmosphere and the delicious food organized by Devorah Rutman.

In addition to the annual Menorah lighting, large menorahs were placed in the lobbies of all of the five star hotels in Kiev. Every night of Chanukah there were lightings in each hotel, conducted by Raphael Rutman and attended by hotel guests and invited Kiev community members, including rabbis, government officials and businessmen.