International Menorah in Kiev

Ambassadors, Foreign diplomats, Ukrainian Government Ministers and Kiev City officials joined the local and foreign Jewish business community at the annual Chanukah party and Menorah lighting hosted by Raphael and Devorah Rutman at the exclusive five star Intercontinental Hotel in the center of Kiev.

The evening, which fell on the fourth night of Chanukah, began with opening remarks by the host, Raphael Rutman. He thanked all of the participants for making the effort to come to spread the universal message of the Chanukah Lights.

The program started with a special memorial service marking the recent terror attack in Berlin, Germany, as well as remembering the many people that have been killed in Ukraine in the current conflict in the East of the country, with representatives from both of these countries lighting special memorial candles. A moment of silence was then held to honor the memory of all of the innocent victims, as well as those that have died in the war in Ukraine over the past three years.

The evening continued with the host talking about the importance of hope and religious freedom that Chanukah represents and the importance of tolerance and light in times like these, with war still raging in the east of the country.

Among the foreign diplomats and government officials who spoke were Mr. Oleksandr Danylyuk, the Ukrainian Finance Minister; Mr. Eli Belotserkovsky, the Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine; Ms. Karen Robblee, the acting US Ambassador to Ukraine; Ms. Judith Gough, the UK ambassador to Ukraine; Mr. Guillaume Scheurer, the Swiss Ambassador to Ukraine; Mr. Ernst Reichel, the German Ambassador to Ukraine; Ms. Isabelle Dumont, the French Ambassador to Ukraine; Mr. Jan Piekto, the Polish Ambassador to Ukraine; Mr. Hugues Mingarelli, the EU Ambassador to Ukraine; and the Mayor of Kiev, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Mr. Vitali Klitchko.

They all spoke about the importance of freedom of speech and democracy that Chanukah stands for, as well as thanked the organizers for the opportunity to join in the celebrations, and expressed greetings and blessings from their respective countries.

After viewing a selection of short videos about Chanukah and present day miracles, the Menorah lighting ceremony began. Each participant at the event was given a candle to hold and light during the ceremony. The eight Ambassadors present then lit their respective candles and formed a human Ambassadorial Menorah with the Mayor of Kiev, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Mr. Vitali Klitchko, acting as Shamash (see photos). The Ambassadors and government officials were honored with helping to light the Shamash of the Menorah by uniting their candles together, and then the large Menorah itself was lit by Mr. Eli Belotserkovsky, the Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine.

After the formal lighting was completed, the guests were invited to join in a traditional Chanukah buffet including latkes, handmade doughnuts and many other delicacies. The guests lingered, savoring the warm Chanukah atmosphere and the delicious food organized by Devorah Rutman.

In addition to the annual Menorah lighting, large menorahs were placed in the lobbies of all of the five star hotels in Kiev. Every night of Chanukah there were lightings in each hotel, conducted by Raphael Rutman and attended by hotel guests and invited Kiev community members, including rabbis, government officials and businessmen, as well as special guests Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham.