Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has issued the following Chanukah message for her constituents.
"With Chanukah underway, I would like to wish everyone in the Jewish community who is celebrating this week a Happy Chanukah!
This is an important festival for many of my constituents and I very much enjoyed a visit to the North London Reform Synagogue in Oakleigh Park in my constituency this morning to take part in Alonim Kindergarten Chanukah celebrations.
It was great to see this multi-faith multi-ethnic nursery school singing songs and taking part so enthusiastically in festivities (and doughnuts!). It was a privilege for me to be invited to light the candles as we remembered the miracle of Chanukah and the lights which continued to burn long after they should have gone out.
I hope everyone marking this important occasion in the Jewish calendar has the chance to enjoy some time with their nearest and dearest over the period of celebration. I wish them well as they light the remaining candles in their Chanukiah over the next few days.
The festival of light has an inspiring message – that even in circumstances which seem devoid of all hope, light can triumph over darkness and good can win out over evil. 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.”