NEARLY
150 PERSONS ATTEND CHANUKAH CANDLE
LIGHTING CEREMONIES IN YANGON, MYANMAR
By
Ben G. Frank,
Author
of “The Scattered Tribe: Traveling the Diaspora
from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond,” (Globe Pequot Press).
·
Nearly 150 guests attended the second
annual Chanukah Lighting Ceremony of the Jewish Community of Myanmar (Burma) at
the Park Royal Hotel in Yangon. Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs U Soe Win
told the gathering that he came to the ceremony to show support for the Jewish
community of Myanmar. The Minister also stressed the “good” relations between
Israel and Myanmar since 1950.
Aung San Suu Kyi was in the capital of Myanmar, Nay Pyi Daw,
at the time, and could not attend. But U Tin Oo, vice chair of the National
League for Democracy, (Suu Kyi’s party) said that Suu Kyi sent “her best wishes”
for the holiday to the community.
The event was held on the night of the
lighting of the Sixth Chanukah Candle
(December 13) according to Sammy Samuels, of Myanmar Shalom. “It was a
miracle for this small Jewish community of Yangon,” declared Sammy Samuels.
There are eight Jewish families in Myanmar, most of them in Yangon.
The U.S. Political/Economic Chief, Douglas Sonnek, also attended.
Lighting the six candles were: Moses Samuels, president of the Myanmar
Jewish Community with Israel Ambassador Hagay M. Behar; Deputy Minister U Soe
Win, Ministry of Religious Affairs;
Janet Benshoof, president of Global Justice Center; U Tin Oo, Vice Chair
of the National League for Democracy; Dr. Aung Myat Kyaw, chairman, Myanmar
Travel Association; and U Hane Latt, vice president of Popular Journals
Myanmar.
At the ceremony, Ambassador of Israel to
Myanmar, Behar---in his talk—connected the tradition of the holiday and its
universal values with the actual conditions in the region. In addition, he
emphasized once more the long lasting and good relations between the Jewish
community, the people of Israel and the republic of the Union of Myanmar.
Present at the event were numerous
ambassadors, EU Mission, UNDP and religious leaders from the Christian, Muslim,
Buddhist, Baha’I and Hindu communities.
The Jewish community in Yangon is proud
of the 100-year-old Musmeach Yeshua
Synagogue, which remains open thanks to the efforts of Moses Samuels. The
synagogues is located on 26th st. in Yangon.
For more information on the Jewish
community contact: www.myanmarshalom.com
