In Dnipro, the ceremonial lighting of the first Hanukkah candle took place at the main city Hanukkiah, traditionally installed at the intersection of the galleries of the world’s largest Jewish center, “Menorah.”
The event host, Shlomo Tereshkevich, invited the Chief Rabbi of Dnipro, Shmuel Kaminezki, who warmly greeted all who came to the celebration, wished everyone a happy Hanukkah, and announced the Jewish leader given the honor of lighting the first candle that opens the eight-day celebration – the esteemed member of the Dnipro Jewish Community, one of the pioneers of the Jewish revival, Reb Yosef David Belyaev.
Yosef David Belyaev recited the blessings, to which those present loudly responded “Amen,” after which he lit the first candle of the holiday and addressed the community with words of greeting and a call to embody the lessons of Hanukkah, which help bring closer the arrival of the Righteous Moshiach.
The second, smaller Hanukkiah, also located in the “Menorah” center, was invited to be lit by the emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who works in our city at the invitation of the Dnipro Jewish Community, Rabbi Levi Karelenshtein.
Following this, a vocal duo performed, creating an extraordinary festive atmosphere with their virtuoso renditions of Jewish, Chassidic, and Hanukkah songs in modern arrangements. Subsequently, a treat of doughnuts and a Hanukkah lottery took place.
