TURKEY

Hanukkah´s Last Night Celebrated All Together at Bebek Park

This year the last night of the Hanukkah Festival was celebrated with a ceremony organized at Bebek Park in Istanbul, all together by the members of the Turkish Jewish Community and the wider society.
December 30, 2022
Hanukkah´s Last Night Celebrated All Together at Bebek Park

Ambassadors and representatives of many countries participated in the ceremony organized by the Turkish Jewish Community, where the Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Irit Lillian, Deputy Governor of Istanbul Hasan Gözen, Mayor of Beşiktaş District Riza Akpolat, Mayor of Beyoğlu District Ali Haydar Yıidiz, and Mayor of Kadiköy District Şerdil Dara Odabaşi were also present.

While the Turkish Jewish Community's co-President Ishak Ibrahimzadeh, Quincentennial Foundation President Silvyo Ovadya, Şalom Newspaper's Editor-in-Chief Ivo Molinas, Şalom Newspaper's Publications Coordinator Virna Gümüşgerdan, Avi Alkaş, Faith Board Representatives and journalist Hakan Çelik were present at the event, Chief Rabbi of Turkey Rabbi Haleva, who could not participate in the ceremony due to his illness, joined via live broadcast.

During the evening which the theatre actor Yosi Mizrahi presented and Yosi Gabay was the DJ, the Turkish Jewish Community's co-President Ishak Ibrahimzadeh took the stand first. As he prayed the Hanukkah candles shall light the darkness in our world, he also wished the miracle of Hanukkah shall come true for the Jews under bombardment in Ukraine. Ibrahimzadeh lit the Hanukkah candles together with two Ukrainian children who had run from the war and taken refuge in Turkey with their mother.

Chief Rabbi Haleva who had to join the ceremony from his home, thanked all those participating in the evening and said "My heart is with you. I pray to God, these lights shall bring peace and serenity to the world."

The Hanukkah candles, this year, just like every year, were lit all together by the joining mayors, ambassadors and representatives of other countries, religious representatives, members and administrators of Jewish institutions and organizations, and most importantly a crowded society of children and young people.

Celebrating in public squares since 2015

The first Hanukkah celebration at a public location in Istanbul was at Ortaköy square in 2015. The Festival of Lights celebration continued in the following years at various other squares and parks in Istanbul.

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