The fifth day of the annual Pillars of Light festival, a celebration of Hanukkah, in Melbourne’s Federation Square was a showcase of Jewish traditions, music and celebration, but also a somber reflection on recent anti-semitic events in Victoria.
Representatives from Labor and LNP parties, as well as the Greek community, including members of parliament, gathered at Federation Square to celebrate the historical and religious Jewish occasion.
Rabbi Gabbi Kaltman from the Ark Centre, and organiser of Pillars of Light, invited guests to celebrate the event by lighting the menorah and participating in dances on stage.
Twenty-two centuries ago, Israel was under the rule of Greek Seleucid Emperor, Antiochus VI who defiled supressed religious freedom.
The Maccabees revolt won back religious freedoms after three years of conflict and they retook Jerusalem.
According to legend, to rededicate their temple, the Maccabees relit the menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum, with one small vial of oil found in the ruins of the temple, there was only enough for one day’s worth of oil, to rekindle the menorah yet that small vial was enough to light the menorah for eight days.
Rabbi Gabi Kaltman focused on recent anti-semitic attacks said that intolerance and antisemitism are “unacceptable in a multicultural Victoria and that the Hanukkah is a celebration of all faiths, all cultures and all races coming together”.
In attendance were Kat Theophanous the Victorian Labor member of Northcote, George Lekakis, who was recently appointed by Premier Jacinta Allan to strengthen social cohesion and review key institutions, Fotis Kapetopoulos, journalist from Neos Kosmos and Theo Zographos former Councillor for Monash City Council, to light the menorah.
The Rabbi talking to Neos Kosmos said: “It was heartening to welcome three leaders from the Greek community to celebrate Hanukah at Pillars of Light.”
“We thank them for their support and for taking a stand against the rising antisemitism faced by the Jewish Community over the past 15 months.
“The Jewish and Greek communities of Melbourne have a long-standing tradition of standing side by side in the fight against racism and intolerance, and this bond has never been stronger.”
Rabbi Kaltman said, that this festival “has truly been the most uplifting and beautiful celebration, bringing together Melburnians from all walks of life to light up the CBD.”
As always during Hanukkah, sufganiyot (jam filled) donuts were distributed by the Rabbi and his team to the delight of adults and children.
The Pillars of Light festival concludes in two days, and each night from 5:30pm musicians, choirs, and dances grace the stage of Fed Square to celebrate the Hanukkah.
Over the weekend as soon as the menorah was lit, the energy was ramped up as Fed Square into became as Rabbi Kalman said, “a massive Chanukah dance party! I’m so excited to hit the decks and DJ the night away!”
