When Javier Milei, President of Argentina, gave a nine-branched candelabra (a hanukkiah) to Ukrainian President Vladomir Zelensky some months ago, he knew that it will be used to celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah with the Ukrainian Jewish community.
So it was. As with the highest political representatives of nations in general, the presidential palace in Kiev hosted Ukrainian chief rabbis, including Jonathan Markovitch and Avraham Wolff, who have both been partners for years of the Jewish community of Oporto.
In 2019, this same Portuguese Jewish community offered something of great symbolism to the President Marcelo Rebelo Sousa: a hanukkiah produced in Toledo, in respect of the ancient art of iron and gold so typical of Sepharad.
Although the chandelier has never been used to celebrate such an important event until today, it is likely that it will be used in the coming years. Senior Israeli, American, Russian and Chinese analysts say the international political and economic situation will force European countries that wish to survive to use all their moral, cultural and productive reserves. The time of empty dreams will end.
