Chanukah celebration by Chabad Cascais. Credit: Chabad Cascais
The Jewish Community of Lisbon (CIL) kicked off the Chanukah celebrations on Sunday, December 14, at the Goethe-Institut in Lisbon. The auditorium was packed to watch the traditional theater, music and dance performance. Around 60 participants from different generations of the CIL took the stage. Afterwards, the celebration continued at the Shaaré Tikvá Synagogue with the lighting of the first Chanukah candle.
Chanukah celebration by the Jewish Community of Lisbon. Credit: Jewish Community of Lisbon
The following day, Monday, December 15, Chabad Cascais held a Chanukah celebration at the Bay of Cascais, an open-air space with enhanced security. The event was organized by Rabbi Eli Rosenfeld together with the Cascais City Hall, represented by its president, Nuno Piteira Lopes.
The Israeli Ambassador to Portugal, Oren Rozenblat, was present, delivering a strong and moving speech about the significance of Chanukah and the need to combat antisemitism, emphasizing the terrible attack that had occurred the previous day in Australia.
Chanukah celebration by Chabad Cascais. Credit: Chabad Cascais
The celebrations continued on Thursday, December 18, with another public event, this time at Eduardo VII Park in Lisbon, for the lighting of the fifth Chanukah candle. The initiative was promoted by the Jewish Community of Lisbon and Chabad Portugal, with the support of the Lisbon City Hall.
Israeli ambassador to Portugal, Oren Rozenblat. Credit: Israel em Portugal
The Israeli ambassador to Portugal warned about the rise in antisemitism and called on governments to take strong action to combat it. Councilor Diogo Moura read a statement by Carlos Moedas, President of the Lisbon City Council: “I want to leave a clear message to the Jewish community of Lisbon: in Lisbon you will be able to continue celebrating Hanukkah. In Lisbon you will be able to continue lighting the lights. In Lisbon you will be able to continue being Jews without fear, without apprehension, without having to look over your shoulder. Because Lisbon is also yours — and has been so for so many, many centuries.
"Here you will continue to be Jews. That is my commitment to you", he concluded.
