(AJNews) – Close to 1000 people gathered at Calgary City Hall on December 30, to celebrate the lighting of the 6th candle of Chanukah. Jewish leaders and VIPs were among the dignitaries who were joined by members of the community, families, friends and allies. Politicians in attendance included Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi, MP Shuv Majumdar and many of the Calgary city counsellors.
Master of Ceremonies for the event was Global News host Sue Deyell, who wished everyone in the audience a Happy Chanukah and announced that Calgary’s Jewish university and college students were the honourees of the celebration.
Speeches by Jewish leaders and politicians about the significance of Chanukah, Festival of Light, were interspersed with traditional music performed by violinist Steven Klevsky, pianist Helena Barker and Cantor Rabbi Levi Matusof providing a warm and joyful atmosphere of celebration. Attendees also enjoyed performances by young students from Chabad of Alberta Camp Gan Israel.
Calgary Jewish Federation president Lisa Libin welcomed everyone in attendance and made note of the many non-Jewish friends of the community who were there “making a personal choice to stand in support of the community.” She spoke of the difficult year that has passed and the importance of the giant menorah that will shine bright in the City of Calgary representing “triumph over ignorance and hate” and that shows “our children and grandchildren, students and friends that we are proud to be Jewish on Chanukah and everyday.” She said that “each candle of menorah symbolizes hope, faith and perseverance” and that “just as the Maccabees witnessed a miracle so many years ago, we pray that a miracle will happen in today’s world too and we will see a return of the hostages [still held in Gaza].”
Rabbi Menachem Matusof, Executive Director of Chabad of Alberta and host of the annual event said the holiday celebrates the importance of everyone coming together to be united to ensure the survival of the Jewish people amidst darkness – that we are all candles and that a little bit of light can push away a lot of darkness. “We are only going forward with more and more light,” he said.
Rabbi Matusof also asked that everyone join in a prayer for the hostages held in Gaza.
“We still have 100 brothers and sisters who are being held hostage in Gaza and who still cannot celebrate Chanukah” he said, referring to the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack against Israel where 1200 people were murdered in southern Israel and over 250 were brutally kidnapped.
The formal part of the program ended following the heartfelt prayer for the hostages. It was followed by joyous dancing, activities for the children, delicious Chanukah refreshments and time to visit with friends and family.
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