El Al produced the longest candle lighting chain in the world

The country’s president, Yitzhak Herzog, also participated in the El Al company’s “Illuminate the World” project designed to produce the longest candle lighting chain in the world. The Honorable President of the State and Rabbi Shlomo Danino lit the fourth Hanukkah candle alongside the children of the Otaf, soldiers wounded in the war and bereaved families.

The longest candle lighting in the world began at the airport in Australia this morning according to Israel time, and from there it moved to the airports from country to country, including Japan, India, Dubai, Morocco, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, England and Israel, and ended in Los Angeles in the USA .

In this project, the participants illuminated the world and spread messages of hope and the unity of Israel on the holiday of Hanukkah this year, the meaning of banishing darkness through light is more important and important than ever against the background of the war.

The lighting of the candles in Israel took place in an emotional and special event with the participation of the Honorable President of the State, Mr. Yitzhak Herzog, the CEO of El Al, Dina Ben Tal Gannasia, children of the Gaza Strip (Sderot, Nativot and Kfar Gaza), soldiers from the 202nd Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade who were wounded in the war, bereaved families The family of Karin Zourno, an El Al employee who was murdered on the cursed Shabbat, and other dignitaries. The event was also attended by El Al’s Deputy CEO, Omri Cohen, Head of the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, Mr. Yossi Keren, Director of the Airports Authority, Mr. Amnon Cohen, and RTA director Shmulik Zakai.

The President of the State, Mr. Yitzhak Herzog: “Two months have passed since we met the face of the dark and heavy darkness, and here comes Hanukkah, and we stand here, together, the candles in our hands are indeed tiny and trembling, but what has shone in our hearts during these two months, shines a precious light on us and overcomes the darkness We shine through the heroic stories of our sons and daughters, who sacrifice and risk their lives for our security and sovereignty here, in our country. I would like to thank El Al, our national airline, and all Israeli companies, for their action, commitment and responsibility in the last two months. Once again, its importance has been proven and the necessity of Israeli airlines. In the midst of the campaign, when almost no one wanted to operate flights, you and all the Israeli companies are there on this important front. The lighting of the candle today, from Australia to Los Angeles, is not only a record that we are breaking, but a chain of resilience and bravery, of Love and brotherhood, of a people for whom there is no evil that can do it. This kindling cries out all over the world: The nation of Israel is alive! Israel’s eternity will not lie! Happy Hanukkah!”

The CEO of El Al, Dina Ben Tal Gnansia, said: “The “Illuminate the World” project is designed to create a bridge of light between all the Jews of the world, to spread a message of unity and strength, despite the complexity, and I am proud that El Al is Israel’s bridge to the world in many ways. Many except the airlift. I thank the president of the country for joining us for this exciting evening that symbolizes hope for all of us, and I hope that on this holiday all the miracles we hope for will come true, and above all the return of all the kidnapped and missing, and of course the safe return of the members of the security forces home.”

The children of Otaf who participated in the lighting of the candles, arrived earlier at the El Al complex in Netav, for a tour during which they met with the CEO of El Al and toured the El Al plane. During the event, Hanan Ben Ari took the stage to entertain and sing for the children.

Photo: Shlomi Yosef