A huge menorah was lit at the Kremlin in Moscow on the first night of Chanukah.
A chief rabbi of Russia, Berel Lazar, kindled the menorah in Manezhnaya Square at Tuesday’s ceremony attended by Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.
“God grant that the light of Chanukah could shine in our hearts and souls,” Interfax quoted Lazar as saying. “Thanks to the Lord we can light the Chanukah menorah on the central square of Moscow today.”
Luzhkov, who enjoys a good relationship with the city’s Jews, spoke about the spirit of tolerance and responsibility of citizens.
“Not only Jews share the principles of kindness, they are universal,” he told the crowd. “Regardless of our nationality and faith, we should respect principles of all people living in our planet. It should be the principle of every authority.”
