Tonight: The First Candle Of Chanuka Was Lit At The Kotel Under The Slogan "Lighting The Light For The Captives" 138 Symbolic Menoras Were Lit (Photos)

By BJLife Israel Newsroom
Posted on 12/07/23

Tonight (Thursday), the first candle of Chanuka was lit at the Western Wall under the slogan "Lighting the Light for the Captives." Additionally, 138 symbolic menoras were lit, representing the number of captives still being held in captivity.

The rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, said, "Here, from the Western Wall, our candles shine for you in the darkness. We pray for you. We pray with you. The entire Jewish nation is with you and will be with you until you return home. We all pray together tonight, 'And the sons shall return to their borders.'"

In an emotional ceremony initiated by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and the Ministry of Religious Services, the lighting of the first Chanuka candle took place, symbolizing 'Lighting the Light for the Captives.' Simultaneously, 138 symbolic Chanuka menoras were lit, corresponding to the number of captives, in prayer for their safe return.

The candle lighting ceremony took place in the presence of the chief rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef; the rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz; the minister of religious services, Rabbi Michael Malkieli; the mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon; Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation; Rabbi Yehuda Cohen, director of the chief rabbinate; the director of the ministry of religious services, Rabbi Yehuda Avidan; the coordinator for captives and missing persons, Colonel Gal Hirsch; Shlomi Berger, the father of Agam Berger, a lookout soldier who was kidnapped to Gaza; Einav Danino, the mother of Uri Danino, who was kidnapped from Re’im, and together with them, the families of the captives and a wide audience.

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef blessed the captives, the missing, and the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces to return safely in body and soul.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites, said, "I am speaking from here, from the Western Wall, from the ancient stones that are the beating heart of the Jewish people. I address our brothers and sisters in Gaza. I don't know if you hear me, but I know that your hearts are connected to ours now. Our candles shine for you in the darkness. We pray for you. We pray with you. The entire Jewish nation is with you, and we will be with you until you return home soon, with G-d's help. We all pray together tonight, 'And the sons shall return to their borders'—healthy and whole in body and soul."

The candle-lighting ceremony will take place every evening during Chanuka at 16:30 at the Western Wall and will be broadcast live on the Western Wall's website. (Except for Friday, 25 Kislev, at 15:30, and Saturday night, 26 Kislev, at 19:30.)