Israeli Envoy to India extends Hanukkah greetings, explains its significance

Azar shared a video on X that explains the history of the Jewish festival.

In a post on X, the Israeli Embassy in India said, "This year, Hanukkah coincides with Christmas. But have you ever heard of Hanukkah? Come, listen to our Ambassador Reuven Azar as he shares the Jewish history of resilience and acceptance. The Embassy of Israel in India wishes everyone Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and joyful holiday season!"

https://x.com/IsraelinIndia/status/1871896322678358178

"How are you? Have you heard of Hanukkah?" the delegate was seen asking a passer-by, to which she replied, "I have, but I don't know what it's about."

Others said that they know it is a Jewish festival, but they don't know what it was about.

He then said, "In Hanukkah, we celebrate the victory of light over darkness. More than 2,300 years ago, the greatest empire of the time, the Seljuks, tried to completely erase our faith, the Jewish faith. But thanks to a small family in the middle of Israel called the Maccabees, we managed to re-inaugurate our temple in Jerusalem and keep our identity."

Azar added that in the feast, they light the menorah, a symbol of respect to other faiths.

"In this feast, we light the menorah that shines over the world and we send a universal message of respect towards other faiths and respect to our identity," he added.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday extended Hanukkah greetings to Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Sa'ar and the global community celebrating the festival.

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1871765781262037260

To this, Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar thanked his "dear friend" Jaishankar for his wishes.

https://x.com/gidonsaar/status/1871820385588744612

"Thank you, S Jaishankar, dear friend, for your warm Hanukkah wishes and your kind words," Sa'ar wrote on X. (ANI)