Hundreds of residents and tourists came to Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv to take part in the traditional lighting of the central Chabad Menorah in in the city.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s shaliach Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky first invited Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir to usher in the Chanukah festival in Tel Aviv by lighting the first Chanukah candle. He was followed by the spokesman for the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, Geoffrey Anisman.

Minister Shamir spoke of Chabad’s magnificent activities all around the globe and especially in Tel Aviv while Mr. Anisman focused on the role that Chabad plays in US-Israel relations. “The ties that bind the United States and Israel are tremendously strong. We see this in many areas, such as security cooperation, economics, and education, and there are also spiritual ties. And Chabad plays a big part in this,” said Anisman.

The Embassy even posted a picture of Anisman raising a toast “Lechaim” with Minister Shamir and Chabad representatives next to the Menorah.

Rabbi Gerlitzky said that this is a project that was initiated by the Lubavitcher Rebbe sixty years ago and that this year Chabad in Tel Aviv will be lighting over 100 public Menorahs at all major intersections, hospitals, senior citizen homes and malls all 8 days of Chanukah in order to light up the city with spiritual light and energy thereby hastening the coming of Moshiach.

Picture attached of Geoff Anisman receiving a picture of the 5000 Lubavitcher Shluchim: From right to Left: Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky, Geoffrey Anisman, Rabbi Avrohom Shmuel Lewin

Picture of Minister Shamir and Anisman saying Lechaim with Lubavitcher representatives: From left to right: Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir, Rabbi Avrohom S. Lewin, Geoffrey Anisman and Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky

Other pictures of Shamir and Anisman lighting Menorah.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)