Brooklyn Boro President, Turkish Council General Light Menorah

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — On Monday, December 14, in celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, with the help of Mehmet Samsar, consul general of Turkey in New York City and New York State Senator Daniel Squadron, presided over the lighting of Brooklyn’s official 29-foot menorah in front of the Supreme Court building in Columbus Park/Borough Hall Plaza. The ceremony was led by Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin of Congregation B’nai Avraham, and holiday refreshments were provided.

“There is an old Jewish saying that sums up the meaning of Chanukah: ‘The eyes are composed of two parts, the light and the dark but you only see out of the dark.’ Those words ring true on this holiday, because they remind us that throughout history Jews have found hope in the midst of horror, triumph in the face of tragedy, and light in spite of darkness,” said BP Markowitz. “The lights of the Chanukah menorah symbolize the freedom that the Jews have fought for and cherish. By lighting the menorah at Borough Hall, we remind the world that Brooklyn is a beacon for freedom-loving people everywhere. Just as the flames in the Chanukah story miraculously burned for eight days with little fuel, I know the light of our menorah will burn bright in the hearts of Brooklynites all year.”