This is already the second Chanukah Ukraine has experienced since the crisis began… Yet, the Chanukah lights burned bright… * A week before Chanukah the message of light was already being spread on billboards throughout the streets of Kharkiv reminding everyone to light in their homes and that a little light dispels a lot of the darkness.

Chanuka in Kharkiv:

A Chanukah Shabbaton for a group of teenage boys was unforgettable as they drove after Havdalla through the city to light menorahs in the streets and the malls and in the homes of the elderly. Arsen came home very excited. “Thank you Mum for making me be born Jewish!” he said. This is his first Chanukah since he started coming to the synagogue after attending camp this summer.

The next day he joined hundreds of young and old who came to celebrate the fourth night of Chanukah in the synagogue.

Children played dreidel games and made candles… everyone ate chocolate-covered doughnuts and hot latkes and enjoyed a fun carnival program.

The mayor of Kharkiv, Igor Terechov joined Rabbi Moshe Moskovitz lighting the menorah. The mayor thanked the community for all the humanitarian help they give in Kharkiv and to refugees from other cities.

Rabbi Moskovitz conveyed the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s message of the power of adding light and goodness to drive away the darkness in the world today. Everyone joined in a prayer for the end of the crisis in Ukraine and Israel and the return of the hostages.

Throughout the city in malls and in the subway station menorahs shine brightly together with billboards spreading the Chanukah message, and a thousand Chanukah menorahs and food packages were given out to Jewish homes throughout the city.

A parade of menorah cars drove through the city past the city and regional buildings damaged by the bombs, sharing a message of resilience and hope even in the darkest of times.