Today, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah was marked at The Hub of Fine Arts in Mostar, in a spirit of unity and respect for a tradition that, through the centuries, carries a message of perseverance, freedom and hope.
The central part of the program was the ceremonial lighting of the Hanukkiah, organised by the President of the Jewish Community of Mostar and President of the Chamber of Commerce of Israel in BiH, Mr. Amir Gross Kabiri. This is a ritual repeated over eight days as a reminder of the victory of light over darkness and of the strength of the human spirit. To this day, the Hanukkiah remains an enduring symbol of freedom, and Hanukkah a reminder that light can be safeguarded and shared even when circumstances are not gentle.
The event was attended by guests from political, economic and religious communities, including the Prime Minister of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Ms. Marija Buhač, the Mayor of the City of Mostar, Mr. Mario Kordić, the Provincial Fra Jozo Grbeš, and the Head of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Mostar, Mr. Duško Kojić.
Before the lighting of the Hanukkiah, the Mayor of the City of Mostar, Mr. Mario Kordić, said:
“With the start of my term, Mr. Kabiri’s arrival in the city of Mostar also coincided. Since then, the two of us have worked closely, addressed challenges and reflected on Mostar’s future. Together with the small, but exceptionally strong Jewish community, we have made an important step forward. We placed the question of the Jewish community in Mostar in an appropriate and dignified way and from Mostar we sent a message that the relationship toward the smallest community is a mirror of the strength of the entire society. A society is only as strong as its smallest links. I remember the many challenges of the past years. We succeeded in clearly sending a message from Mostar that we support peace in the world, peace in Israel, and the security of the State of Israel, while also stating that we want to stand with those who advocate peace and security. As Mayor of Mostar, I will continue to promote the values of unity, love and coexistence. May it be an honor to all of us that tonight, together with the Jewish community, we have the opportunity to celebrate Hanukkah.”
A representative of the Embassy of the State of Israel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Ernest Grin, conveyed an appropriate message from the Ambassador of the State of Israel, Ms. Galit Peleg:
“Hanukkah is the holiday of light and miracles. Yet even today, there are those who do not believe in these values, for whom antisemitism is not unfamiliar. There are still those who try to extinguish the light, like the perpetrators of the attack on a Hanukkah gathering in Sydney, Australia.
Despite everything, we still believe in miracles. Last year at this time, we prayed for a miracle that would bring our hostages home. Today, after more than two years of captivity in Hamas tunnels in Gaza, the surviving hostages have finally returned to their families and are spending these days at home, with their loved ones.
That is precisely why we believe in miracles. We believe that no one can extinguish the light as long as we believe in humanity and in every person’s right to live in accordance with their faith. Thank you for joining us today in Mostar and helping spread the light in both of our countries, in Israel and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
