Hanukkah coincides with a bright future for UAE, says head of Jewish community Ross Kriel

NEW YORK – To mark the Jewish festival of Hanukkah and celebrate the fostering of Jewish life in the United Arab Emirates, the World Jewish Congress honored Amb. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, permanent representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, at a candle-lighting ceremony Wednesday evening at the Neue Galerie in New York City.

Mr. Ross Kriel, Jewish Representative to the Community Development Authority, Government of Dubai, delivered remarks via video.

“When we light the menorah on Hanukkah here in the UAE, we do it with a very visceral and immediate sense of the wonder of Hanukkah,” he said. “That there’s a convergence of the festival of Hanukkah and the 50th birthday of the UAE does not seem a coincidence to me. The UAE is a bastion of pluralism, tolerance and human citizenship. We celebrate this birthday with a deep sense of gratitude.”

Mr. Kriel added, “We are very honored to be affiliated [with] the World Jewish Congress. It’s an organization that brings together hardworking, genuine community leaders from around the world.”

Click here to read more about the candle-lighting ceremony honoring Amb. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh.