MOSCOW, Russia - Chanukah came to downtown Moscow yesterday with a special menorah-lighting ceremony on Manezh Square – right across from the Kremlin and Red Square.
Among those celebrating the festival of lights next to a giant chanukiyah were the Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, Moscow’s Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS Lev Leviev.
In a speech to the crowd, Mayor Luzhkov condemned those who deny the Holocaust ever happened. “They say that millions of Jews never died. One step from that is to claim that there was no such thing as fascism. They try to force on us fascism, hatred and ethnic conflict. All nationalities should work together to ensure that the Holocaust is never repeated.”
It has become a tradition in Moscow to hold the FJC Russia’s annual “Person of the Year Awards” on Hanukkah. This year the awards ceremony took place in the Russian Army Theatre.
In a lavish ceremony, the silver figure of a dancing fiddler was awarded to the most outstanding personalities of the last twelve months for their contribution to the cultural or social life of Jews in Russia.
Among those rewarded were Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov in the category "Top Statesman", Sibir airlines stewardess Viktoria Zilberstein, for her bravery in rescuing passengers after a plane crash in the category "Courage", as well as Volgograd Rabbi Zalman Yoffe for "Jewish Community of the Year".
Israeli businessman Arkady Gaidamak received a special award for organizing a camp for displaced Israelis during the Lebanon crisis.
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