World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder and Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon held a special celebration in New York on Sunday night marking the eighth night of Hanukkah, welcoming guests of honor Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and his wife Nechama.
Permanent representatives to the UN from dozens of countries, diplomats, Israeli lawmakers and senior Jewish leaders were among the annual Hannukah Festival of Lights reception hosted by Lauder and Danon at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, where the candles were lit to mark the final night of the holiday.
"The festival that we call Hanukkah has a timeless message that...by creating light on one of the darkest nights of the year, it kindles our strong desire to find a lasting peace in our world,” WJC President S. Lauder said as he welcomed the guests.
President Rivlin voiced pride in Israel’s steps toward “healing the world,” adding: "Israel is all too often the target of politically motivated attacks in the UN. But we insist on presenting our views, even as the few against many, in the belief, that the light Israel spreads – not just at Hanukkah, but every day – will overcome the darkness of extremism, violence, and terrorism. Hanukkah's main message is 'the victory of light over dark’.”
Danon told the guests that he would dedicate his candle this holiday to the memory of Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul and Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, whose bodies were abducted during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.
“In this celebration of the holiday of lights, we must unite against global terrorism, and banish the darkness that this terror has brought upon the world,” Danon said.
WJC CEO Robert Singer thank the Israeli mission to the UN for its strong friendship and cooperation. “The World Jewish Congress is grateful for the important relationship we have developed with the Israeli mission to the United Nations, and looks forward to many years of fruitful friendship.”
The event concluded with the musical performance of a Hanukkah medley by ‘One Voice,’ a group of young Israelis from the Tel-Aviv Hebrew Scouts Music group and The Greek Arab Orthodox Scouts Orchestra of Jaffa.
