Jerusalem Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar Shlita and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman were the dignitaries on hand to light the second candle at the Kosel Menorah on Wednesday.
The following message was delivered by the ambassador in the name of US President Donald Trump.
Ambassador Friedman congratulated President Donald Trump and the entire US government and said, “I wish everyone a happy Chanukah, a holiday of light, of blessing, of joy and peace. More than two thousand years ago, the Second Temple was conquered by King Antiochus of the Greek kingdoms. He forbade the work of the Temple and did much to conceal the Jewish religion. In front of him stood a small group of courageous Jews from Modi’in – not far from here – and rebelled against the Greek monarchy, and in the end, they won.”
Also present for the event were Rabbi Moshe Amar Shlita, Rav of the Kosel and Holy Sites Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz Shlita, the Minister of Tourism Mr. Yariv Levin and the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Michael Oren.
Ambassador Friedman added: “They inaugurated the Temple and returned the work to Jerusalem, and in memory of that great victory the Hasmoneans set the eight days of Chanukah, and if everything is true, it happened only a few meters from where I stand now and it is a great honor for me, and I am very excited to stand here in this holy place and light a second candle of Chanukah in Jerusalem – the capital of the State of Israel.
A great honor to light the Menorah at the Western Wall. Some 2,180 years ago, the Maccabees reclaimed this very site and restored Jewish ritual to the Second Temple. Awed to stand on the same hallowed ground. Happy Chanukah to all!! pic.twitter.com/vnhageusmr
— David M. Friedman (@USAmbIsrael) December 13, 2017
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