Hundreds of people gather in the city center to attend the celebration. At the same time, attention was paid to the conflicts in the world. “We pray about what is going on abroad, but the most important thing is that there is a celebration now and we need to focus on that.”
Come together
The people on Dam Square emphasize that the party is all about connection. “It’s the festival of lights, it’s about coming together and also different religions. Continuing together in a more positive way,” a man explains to AT5.
Despite the connection, someone else indicates that the location still feels ambiguous today. “Dam has become much more charged than it should be. Because it has become a place where sometimes you can be and sometimes you can’t be and where you always think about your safety.”
Celebration
Worldwide, the Hanukkah festival is celebrated from Wednesday, December 25 to January 2, 2025. The celebration goes back more than 2,000 years, when the Jewish people revolted and then regained the freedom to practice their faith.
During Hanukkah, one of the eight candles in the candlestick, the Hanukkah, is lit every day. The light being lit symbolizes the message of good over evil, light over darkness and freedom over tyranny.