Every evening of Chanukah, a large electric chanukiah is lit on Dnipro’s main square – Heroes of the Maidan Square – to fulfill the directive of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, regarding the maximal spreading of Chanukah light. On the special evening of the fifth candle of the chag, a large city-wide celebration with a ceremonial lighting took place, gathering hundreds of people.
Although Chanukah is a Yom Tov of joy and light, the ceremony began with a moment of silence in honor of those who gave their lives for the victory of goodness and justice, after which Rabbi Moshe Leib Weber recited a psalm of David, traditionally said to bring closer victory and establish a just peace.
Next, with words of welcome to the Yom Tov participants, the Chairman of the Board of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, Rabbi Meir Zvi Stambler, and the Director of the Dnipro Jewish Community, Zelig Brez, addressed the crowd. Calling for every effort to spread the news of the Chanukah miracle and its most important spiritual meanings, they warmly congratulated everyone and wished a happy Chanukah.
The central part of the ceremony was the lighting of the actual flame of five Chanukah candles, in addition to the already shining electric lights. This was performed by the Secretary of the Dnipro Rabbinical Court, Rabbi Schneur Zalman Futerfas, with the translation of the brachos read by Reb Zelig Brez. Following this, young children, pupils of Dnipro’s Jewish educational institutions, recited the well-known “Twelve Pesukim” that the Lubavitcher Rebbe urged every Jewish child to learn.
The joyful festive atmosphere on the square was created by the performance of the vocal trio “Simcha,” to whose songs students from Dnipro’s yeshivos, community activists and congregants, and numerous Yom Tov guests danced happily. All those present could receive special Chanukah souvenirs and Chanukah treats – sufganiyot doughnuts, and at the nearby “Pory roku” coffee truck, by saying the magic word “mazel,” one could get a free hot coffee or tea.
The celebration concluded with a grand Chanukah lottery. In addition to cash prizes, coveted gadgets for every child, such as stereo headphones and Bluetooth speakers, were raffled off, with the main prize being a PlayStation game console.
“The event on Dnipro’s main square was held to a very high standard, and the entire celebration became a bright and unforgettable occasion. We are sincerely grateful for the assistance in its execution and the support in ensuring security provided by the organizations CWA and JRNU,” says Rabbi Reuven Kaminezki. “On behalf of all the city’s Jews, I would particularly like to express special thanks to the family of Moshe Leib and Shoshana Weber for everything they have done throughout the year and for their contribution to organizing this Yom Tov, which became a major and significant city-wide event, carried out by the united and cohesive Dnipro Jewish community under the leadership of its Rav, Shmuel Kaminezki.”
