With the beginning of Hanukkah, world leaders wished a happy Hanukkah to the Jewish communities in their country and in Israel this evening (Thursday). In their words, they wished for peace and joy during the holiday, and expressed support for the Jewish people in the shadow of the war in Israel and the increase in cases of anti-Semitism in the world.
"I wish a happy Hanukkah to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the people of Israel," wrote Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X (formerly Twitter), in a tweet published in Hebrew and English. "I express my appreciation to our Jewish friends in India and the whole world. May this holiday bring with it peace, hope and light in everyone's lives." At the same time, the President of India Droupadi Murmu sent a greeting to the country's President Isaac Herzog: "I wish you and all the people of Israel a happy Hanukkah full of light and hope."
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, wished "a happy Hanukkah to the Jewish communities in Ukraine and Israel who are celebrating during the war, as well as to all Jewish families around the world. May the menorah candles illuminate your homes, and may faith in good always defeat the forces of evil."
Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė said that she "sends best wishes to all the Jews of Lithuania and the world on the occasion of Hanukkah. The holiday tells the story of human resilience, and reminds us that even the smallest light can remove the darkness and light the way. It is a time to cherish the miracles in our lives, from ancient times to today, and to remember that anything is possible. This is especially important at a time when there is so much hatred, cruelty and anti-Semitism in the world. I believe that the miracle of Hanukkah and faith will allow us to overcome all obstacles."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that "the Hanukkah holiday is a reminder of the power of light, hope and determination, even when faced with darkness and severe hostility. After the attacks by Hamas against Israel and the disturbing increase in anti-Semitism around the world, the values at the heart of the Hanukkah holiday are more important than ever. We must all, Jews and non-Jews, stand against this hatred. The Canadian government will always stand by the Jewish community, and together we will build a safer future for everyone. I wish everyone a happy and blessed Hanukkah."