This evening, the Claims Conference hosted at the Western Wall to light the fifth candle, about 120 Holocaust survivors from around the country, and Holocaust survivors from Ukraine who were rescued with the assistance of the Claims Conference for Israel following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
The special candle lighting was attended by Claims Conference Executive Director Greg Schneider, Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, Minister of Religious Affairs Michael Malkieli, Claims Conference Vice President Ziona Kenig-Yair, and Chairman of the Center of Organizations for Holocaust Survivors in Israel, Colette Avital. This year's candle lighting was held in honor of the murderous terrorist attack on the State of Israel on October 7, and the war against rising anti-Semitism around the world.
Lighting the fifth candle of Hanukkah with the families of the abductees
In parallel to the event, which took place at the Western Wall, parallel ceremonies are held in New York and Berlin with the participation of leading public figures in the United States, Germany and Israel, along with Holocaust survivors from all over the world.
This is the seventh time that the Claims Conference and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation have held a festive event and dedicated the lighting of a Hanukkah candle to Holocaust survivors who with the strength of their souls carry the torch of life and with a call and prayer that from the Western Wall plaza, the place that symbolizes the vitality and continuity of the Jewish people, their light will continue and increase as Chanukah candles, and they will soon see the building of Israel, with a great cry of "The people of Israel are alive!"
The event was opened by Ziona Kenig Yair, Vice President of the Claims Conference in Israel: "From the place of the state until today, we did not need light like we do these days. With the beginning of the war, we established at the Claims Conference a dedicated emergency fund for Holocaust survivors for their immediate needs as a result of the fighting, and in cooperation with partner organizations and the Claims Conference staff here in Israel, we were able to create an immediate response. These days, we are expected to take from you, survivors of the Holocaust, a personal example, and know that from the darkness we will come to light, and there is no better time to mention this than on Hanukkah."
Herzog greeting Hanukkah happy: "Take care of our society, don't burn the bridges we built in the last two months" // Photographer: Itay Beit On, Recorder: Yehezkel Kandil
Greg Schneider, Vice President of the World Claims Conference, said: "In these days of Hanukkah, our hearts are with the members of the security forces, first responders and the heroes of October 7, and of course with the families of the abductees. And today we want to light a Hanukkah candle in the holiest place for the Jewish people, for Holocaust survivors, and for the next generation – the next generation of the Jewish people. Just like the menorah candles we lit, Holocaust survivors bring light, hope, strength and resilience to the Jewish people. The light given to us by Holocaust survivors reminds us that even in dark days, when there is unimaginable distress, the light will find its way out."
Colette Avital, Chairperson of the Center of Organizations of Holocaust Survivors in Israel: "This evening we light a Hanukkah candle in one of the holiest places for the Jewish people – the Temple. We are in difficult times the likes of which we have not been since the establishment of the state. The story of Hanukkah and Judah Maccabee taught us the importance of preserving our identity. We are in the days of war because the State of Israel is most important and difficult, and our identity is that we are strong, proud of our society, and this is also your spirit, Holocaust survivors who went through and survived everything."
Lighting the fourth candle of Hanukkah at Israel Hayom's "Fair of Light" // Photo: Moshe Ben-Simhon
Sarah Kaufman, a Holocaust survivor, who survived the pogrom in Iasi, Romania, as a child, and whose three sons and four grandchildren are currently serving in the army: "We are going through a terrible time, and I am so happy to be here, and I am only sorry that my parents, who passed away 20 years ago, did not have such the honor of being here at the lighting of the candles. And I pray that all the soldiers return home safely."
Valery Risin, a survivor who immigrated to Israel when the war broke out in Ukraine: "We knew that here it was always not calm, but we have no doubt that we are a strong people and we will win. We have to go all the way."
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