Hanukkah ceremony at Great Wall marks historic first

Sun, 25 Dec 2005  

The small Jewish community in Beijing has lit the first light of Hanukkah at the Great Wall of China, in the first time that the festival of lights has been celebrated there.

Employees from the Israeli Embassy in Beijing led the ceremony at a stretch of the ancient wall in Huairou County, 70 kilometres northeast of the Chinese capital.

It was just one of many celebrations around the world as the eight-day Hanukkah festival began at sundown on Sunday.

It was the first time since 1959 that the first night of Hanukkah fell on the same date as Christmas. It won't occur again until 2024.

At the Great Wall, participants watched as the first candle was lit on the menora, a branched candelabrum, then sang special songs and ate traditional foods.

Some non-Jewish guests from China were invited to take part.

Israeli Ambassador Yehoyada Haim told reporters the "historic" event was meant to commemorate the relationship between Israel and China in a special way.

Hanukkah, which means "dedication," commemorates the rededication of a temple in Jerusalem two millennia ago after a small band of Jewish fighters reclaimed the city from Syrian forces.

The Jewish festival is set according to the Jewish calendar and usually starts a few weeks before Dec. 25.

The current season's celebration ends on Jan. 2.

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