HANUKKAH IS A JOYOUS HOLIDAY FOR JEWS AROUND THE WORLD. THIS PAST HANUKKAH, NEW YORK’S HONORABLE JUDGE BRUCE BALTER AND RABBI DR. ELIE ABADIE CELEBRATED IN SPECIAL WAYS. JUDGE BALTER WAS INVITED BY THE PORT AUTHORITY POLICE SHROMIN SOCIETY TO LIGHT THE MENORAH AT WORLD TRADE CENTER GROUND ZERO. “IT WAS MY GREAT HONOR TO ONCE AGAIN HAVE THE ZECHUT TO LIGHT THE MENORAH AT GROUND ZERO. IT WAS SUCH A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE TO REPRESENT AM YISRAEL,” SAID JUDGE BALTER.
A little over a year ago, Rabbi Dr. Abadie left our community to serve as the Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates, in Dubai. We checked in with him to find out how he spent the holiday. He said, “Hanukkah in the UAE was eight days of miracles. The Jewish community celebrated each night in a different place with pride of being Jewish and living in the UAE.” Here’s a look at Judge Balter’s and Rabbi Abadie’s celebrations as well as celebrations around the world.