Seventh Hanukkah Candle: ‘The Fight Against Antisemitism’ at the Western Wall

Photo Credit: courtesy, Western Wall Heritage Foundation

Lighting the seventh candle of Hanukkah at the Western Wall, Dec. 31, 2024

Tuesday night’s lighting of the seventh Hanukkah candle at the Western Wall Plaza took place under the theme “The Fight Against Antisemitism,” calling from the Western Wall Plaza to the world to halt antisemitism against the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

The event was held in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and attended by numerous ambassadors from leading countries worldwide.

“In these days of battling great darkness, days of blurring the lines between truth and falsehood, between wickedness and justice, there are nations and countries, led by the United States, standing by our side in this struggle with the torch of freedom in their hands,” Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites said.

“In this fight — against a culture of terror, violence, and death, a fight for the future of the entire free world — we are not alone,” the rabbi observed.

“Dear ambassadors, you have come to light the Chanukah candles with us, thereby expressing solidarity with the spirit and values of our nation, with light and truth, and with the desire to overcome darkness, denounce antisemitism, and reject hatred. May God bless you and your countries”.

Among the participating ambassadors were representatives from the United States, China, Albania, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Serbia, and Sri Lanka.

The ceremony was also attended by Social Welfare Minister Rabbi Yaakov Margi; Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Rabbi Eliezer Rauchberger; Deputy Attorney General Dr. Gil Limon; Western Wall Heritage Foundation Director Mordechai (Suli) Eliav; Foreign Ministry Director Eden Bar-Tal; US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew; and ambassadors from countries around the world, as well as Yad LaBanim chairman Eli Ben Shem and bereaved families and siblings, among others.

The ceremony for lighting the eighth and final Hanukkah candle, along with a global prayer for unity and the redemption of Israel, will take place tonight (Wednesday) at 4:30 pm at the Western Wall Plaza, and will be broadcast live on the Western Wall website.