President of Ukraine meets Chanukah in Odessa

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President of Ukraine meets Chanukah in Odessa

Thursday, December 17 2009

ODESSA, Ukraine – President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko joined the Jewish community of Odessa in a ceremony for lighting the candles of the Chanukah Menorah. The event was held in the Odessa synagogue.

Chief Rabbi of Odessa and Southern Ukraine Avraham Wolf, who is also a Chabad-Lubavitch emissary serving Jews in this area, emphasized that the honor of lighting the shamash candle of the Chanukah Menorah was bestowed on President Yushchenko for all that he has done in order to ensure that there is freedom of speech and freedom of religion and conscience in Ukraine.

In addressing the crowd gathered for this Chanukah celebration, President Yushchenko noted that he is very happy to be attending this event on this particular occasion. The president noted that he feels that he carries a personal responsibility to all national minorities of the country, including the Jewish community, in such areas as securing their religious rights and freedoms. "I will do my best so that all nations, including Jews, can receive the benefits of everything that they might not even be able to enjoy in their homeland. This is so, because it would be a compliment to our country – Ukraine – and to our freedom and democracy," he stated.

The Jewish community of Odessa is one of hundreds across Ukraine that is celebrating the holiday of light. It is a member of the Federation of Jewish communities of the CIS and Baltic States.

http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?AID=1070570