Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has issued the following Chanukah message.
“To the Jewish community in Barnet and around the world may I wish you Chanukah Sameach? Unfortunately, due to the restrictions in place due to Covid-19, the normal community celebrations cannot take place. But I hope that people can come together via the electronic means that we all have come so accustomed to in 2020.
This year Chanukah’s inspiring message – that even in circumstances which seem devoid of hope, light can triumph over darkness and good can win out over evil, is even more poignant then ever. Whatever our faith or cultural background, we can all take heart from the story of a small band of brave Maccabees defeating one of the mightiest armies on earth, against the odds, and reclaiming the Temple in Jerusalem.”
Observed over eight nights, the Chanukah festival of lights commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the revolt of the Maccabees against the Seleucid Empire in the Holy Land. To remember brave struggle of the Maccabees, and the miracle of a small jar of oil keeping a lamp alight for eight days, the Jewish community traditionally light a candle in a nine branched candle holder, known as a Chanukiah, on each evening of the festival.
The photo shown with this article was taken at a Downing Street Chanukah reception in 2015 and features Theresa's constituent, Lilian Gelnick.
