Wednesday evening, just before the public candle lighting in the industrial city of Kremenchuk situated on the Dnipro River, several young individuals toppled and damaged the large menorah. The city’s rabbi, Shlomo Salmon, was shocked to discover the vandalism when he arrived to conduct the daily celebration:
“The police swiftly initiated an investigation, and in a short time, their investigators managed to apprehend the suspects involved in the act...[T]he menorah has been standing in the square for the third consecutive year, spreading the miracle of Hanukkah. This year, the municipality approached me and suggested relocating the menorah to the busiest square near the city hall...the proposal itself was very moving for us.”
Following the jarring event, Rabbi Salmon decided to hold a larger-than-usual public lighting of the eighth Hanukkah candle on Thursday. “We will drive away the darkness with light."
Just two months ago, the city was rocked by a missile attack that damaged residential buildings in the downtown area, killing one person and the injuring 55 others, including six children.
We pray that next Hannukah in Kremenchuk we will be celebrating peace in Ukraine, in Israel, and throughout the world. With your help we save lives and restore hope.
