Special: Jewish community celebrates Hanukkah in UAE

Dubai - Tonight is the second night of Hanukkah and will mark a historic moment in Dubai

Hanukkah celebration’s kicked off in Dubai with a candle-lighting ceremony at the Burj Khalifa overlooking the Dubai fountain.

The sight of a 3-meter-high menorah on the backdrop of the world’s tallest building is a sight that has astonished Jewish community members around the world. The idea of Jewish life being celebrated on Arab land is both emotional and joyous- and above all, a reflection of the post Abraham Accords era that we live in.

Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum who is spending Hannukah in Dubai says it still feels like a dream.

“It seems surreal to be celebrating the Festival of Lights in Dubai this year where last year they were amongst the regional countries that Israelis were not allowed to visit. It is indeed a miracle and hopefully the light of this warm peace will shine on the entire region,” says Hassan-Nahoum.

Rabbi Elie Abadie who recently moved to Dubai to serve as the Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates says the region is changing in front of our eyes.

“Hanukkah is a holiday known to be filled with miracles and indeed almost in every generation we see miracles happening on Hanukkah. This year it’s certainly a miraculous year as we witness the entire Middle East and Gulf region becoming a place of tolerance, coexistence, harmony and living together” says Abadie

The first night of Hanukkah organised by the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish Community Center, one of Dubai’s two Jewish communities, hosted roughly 250 people just outside of the Armani-Kaf kosher restaurant, with several smaller events held across the city. The giant menorah will remain at the base of Burj Khalifa until the end of Hanukkah, as an additional candle is lit every night throughout the eight-day celebration.

The story of Hanukkah is based on a miracle that happened some 2,500 years ago when the Greek empire tried stopping Jews from practicing their religion. The idea that an Arab country is not only enabling the Jewish community to practice their religion, but is encouraging them to do so – is in many ways coming full circle.

“We have the government’s support, we’ve always had it – long before the Abraham Accords,” says JCC Chief Rabbi Levi Duchman. According to him the UAE government is in constant contact with the community and its leaders, making sure all needs are met. “They make sure we are as comfortable as possible,” says Duchman.

The miracle of Hanukkah highlights the story of the Maccabees who defeated the Greek emperor Antiochus and rededicate the second Temple where the miracle of oil occurred. According to Judaism’s central text, the Talmud, the Macabees discovered a jug of pure oil that was enough to light the lamp for one day, but instead lasted eight days. This wonderous event inspired Jewish sages to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival.

The Menorah is an age-old symbol of religious tolerance and can be found at almost every Jewish home. Within the Jewish community it is customary to gather with family and friends on every night of Hanukkah and light the menorah, sing songs, eat jelly donuts (known as sufganiyot), while children spin dreidels.

This year’s Hanukkah celebration came with a surprise from the White House who announced Morocco has agreed to normalise relations with Israel, the fourth country to do so since the UAE signed the Abraham Accords agreement and paved the way for normalisation with Israel.