7,000 Publicly Celebrate Chanukah in Argentina
In Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital city, the Grand Menorah-lighting at La Plaza Republica Oriental del Uruguay has become a tradition and the way all parts of the Jewish community celebrate Chanukah.
This year being a year of Hakhel, the celebration was taken to a whole new level. An extraordinary program and publicity campaign was arranged, with a guest appearance by world famous singer Gad Elbaz.
The event this past Wednesday, Dec. 9th, was attended by over 7,000 people from all parts of the Jewish community.
The program was chaired by Mr. Levi G. Ayi, and began with children’s Chanukah activities, live music by Yedidya Chayat, Videos by Rabbi Shike Birman of Jabad.tv, and interactive social media activities by Levi Grunblatt and his team.
Israeli minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev gave warm greetings to the crowd, and praised the political changes in Argentina and their relationship with the land of Israel.
The menorah was lit by dignitaries and community leaders, including Israel’s ambassador to Argentina, Dorit Shavit.
Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt, national director of Chabad-Lubavitch, pointed out how the event represents the Hakhel spirit, and that these 31 years of consecutive public Menorah lightings in Argentina is a true Chanukah miracle and shows how light will always overcome the darkness.
Gad Elbaz got the entire crowd energized with a spectacular music show, which the thousands of people from all parts of the Jewish community and all the Batei Chabad enjoyed and will remember for a long time
The evening was arranged by Tzach of Chabad-Lubavitch Argentina.
eli
wow