2022-12-18
Today Jews all over the world are celebrating a major feast, the great festival of Hannukah, as a symbol of the triumph of light over darkness; I would like to wish peace, victory, and prosperity to the Jewish nation and every Jew around the world, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated in his speech during the celebration of Hannukah at the Great Synagogue of Tbilisi.
According to the Prime Minister, the relations and brotherhood between the Jewish and Georgian nations have been time-tested over the centuries, and there are not many analogues in world history.
"Good evening, dear friends, my Jewish brothers, Gvirotay, Verabotay, Achim Sheli, Chag Hannukah Sameach! I wish you a Happy Great Feast of Hanukah! It is a great honor to join you in celebrating this day, my dear, beloved sisters and brothers. Today-in the rank of Prime Minister-I am celebrating this feast together with you for the fifth time. I welcome Israel's Ambassador to Georgia, the former Ambassador, Mister Shabtai Tsur, also the Knesset's representative, Mister David Bitan, and Rabbi Iakob for whom we have so much respect. I would like to briefly reiterate the unique relations, and the unique brotherhood, that have developed between our nations. These relations and brotherhood between the Jewish and Georgian nations have been time-tested over the centuries, and we can say that there are not many analogues in world history. Today Jews all over the world are celebrating a major feast, the great festival of Hannukah, as a symbol of the triumph of light over darkness; I would like to wish peace, victory, and prosperity to the Jewish nation and every Jew around the world. We have many honest and true friends in Israel. I would like to make special mention of Georgian Jews, who have returned to their homeland. Still, Georgia will always remain their second homeland. Once again, thank you for your brotherhood, thank you for your friendship. Hanukkah Sameach!" the Prime Minister stated.
The Prime Minister lit a Hanukkah menorah at the Synagogue. On his visit to the Great Synagogue of Tbilisi, the Prime Minister was accompanied by the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Tea Akhvlediani, the Ambassador of Israel to Georgia, Hadas Meitzad, the former Ambassador of Israel to Georgia, Shaftai Tsur, the Chairman of the State Agency for Religious Issues, Zaza Vashalmadze, the Head of the f the Friendship Group with the Georgian Parliament in the Parliament of the State of Israel, David Bitan, the Chairman of the Union of Georgian Jews, Merab Chanchalashvili, the Chief Rabbi of the Great Synagogue of Tbilisi, Rachamin Murdukhashvili, and the Chief Rabbi of the World's Georgian Jews, Iakob Gagulashvili.
Press Service of the Government Administration