Israeli Ambassador Rozenblat and Rabbi Chetrit lit the first candle in Oporto
More than 400 people gathered at the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue in Oporto to celebrate the lighting of the first Chanukah candle, accompanied by the voices of the Mekor Haim Choir. The atmosphere was one of unity and resilience, coming just hours after the horrific attack against the Jewish community of Sydney during the celebration of the first night of Chanukah.
Israeli Ambassador Rozenblat at the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue.
The celebration was attended by the Ambassador of Israel to Portugal, Oren Rozenblat, who, together with Rabbi Haim Chetrit, lit the first Chanukah candle. The moment carried strong symbolic meaning, reaffirming Jewish continuity, solidarity, and strength in the face of adversity.
Rabbi Haim Chetrit at the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue.
A moving musical program was presented by the Mekor Haim Choir under the direction of Maestro Leonardo Mendonça. The repertoire was specially selected for the occasion and accompanied the candle lighting with festive and historic melodies that deeply moved those present.
The Chanukah celebration at the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue.
The program opened with Maoz Tzur, set to music in the Baroque style by Benedetto Marcello, a 17th-century Italian composer—an interesting departure from the German melody more commonly sung in many communities.
More than 400 people gathered at the Oporto Synagogue to celebrate the lighting of the first Chanukah candle.
The remainder of the program was devoted to festive melodies from the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in London, harmonized by Emanuel Aguilar, a descendant of Portuguese Jews who settled in England. Aguilar transcribed the melodies of Rabbi Aaron David de Sola, himself also of Portuguese Jewish descent. These works were published in the book The Ancient Melodies of the Liturgy of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, which is freely available online.
A moving musical program was presented by the Mekor Haim Choir.
The choir performed several of these historic pieces with great enthusiasm, including Hallel (Psalm 117), Kol Berue, Shochant Basadeh, and Yom Ze LeYisrael, enriching the celebration with music that reflects the enduring heritage of Sephardic Jewry.
The Chanukah celebration at the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue.
The evening stood as a powerful expression of faith, remembrance, and communal strength, reinforcing the enduring message of Chanukah: light, hope, and resilience in the face of darkness.
