Genoa, Palazzo Ducale, the Jewish community and the lighting of the Channukà
The public lighting of the fifth light of Channukà took place in Genoa: the Jewish Community lit the fifth light of the eight that make up the special nine-branched candelabrum at the center of the Jewish feast of Channukà in the main courtyard of Palazzo Ducale, share it with all citizens. After reading some stories taken from the book “A night of Hannuka” by Isaac Bashevis Singer, dedicated to the little ones, in the Casa Luzzati headquarters, on the first floor of the Palazzo, the rav Giuseppe Momigliano went to the main courtyard to the ceremony. The festival of Channukà, or festival of lights, recalls when, after the reconquest of the Temple of Jerusalem, after the attempt of Hellenization by the king of Syria, the priests hurried to relight the candlestick, the menorah, but the pure olive, which was supposed to feed him permanently, was almost over, there was a small amount left – it was enough for only one day. Instead, that little oil fueled the candlestick lights for eight days, until new pure oil was available. This is why the festival of Channukà lasts eight days: from last Sunday until 26 December, every day, eight lights gradually light up, one more every evening, of the eight-branched candelabrum (plus one) called, for the festival, Channukìa The public lighting of the fifth light of Channukà was organized by the Jewish community of Genoa, as the president Raffaella Petrarola Luzzati explains “as a sign of sharing the values of freedom, equality and dignity of all men”. The voices of the Shlomot choir accompanied the lighting of the fifth lamp.
(video service by Fabrizio Cerignale)