Chanukah lights up Parliament
POLITICIANS, religious leaders and members of the community gathered in Queen’s Hall on Monday night for the annual Chanukah in Parliament celebration. The flagship event was organised by Rabbi Chaim Herzog of Chabad of Melbourne CBD in conjunction with Central Shule Chabad, and was emceed by Member for Caulfield David Southwick.
POLITICIANS, religious leaders and members of the community gathered in Queen’s Hall on Monday night for the annual Chanukah in Parliament celebration. The flagship event was organised by Rabbi Chaim Herzog of Chabad of Melbourne CBD in conjunction with Central Shule Chabad, and was emceed by Member for Caulfield David Southwick.
Addressing the event, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education James Merlino said, “When so much of our focus is necessarily on security and safety, a time for hope and joy is welcome indeed.”
He praised Victoria’s multiculturalism, and stressed the importance of young people learning about other faiths.
“Embracing one another’s cultural and faith traditions is something that we do very well in Victoria,” he said.
“Our cultural, linguistic and religious diversity is one of the greatest assets of our society. It represents the foundations of cohesion in our community.”
The sentiment was echoed by shadow minister for multicultural affairs Inga Peulich MLC, who said, “Let the celebration of Chanukah remind us of the need to protect this harmony, to protect this religious freedom being enjoyed in this wonderful country of ours, and the respect that we hold for the diversity of our community.”
Central Shule Chabad’s Rabbi Yitzchok Riesenberg discussed the messages of Chanukah, including the sages’ notion that “a little light dispels a lot of darkness”.
“Today the message of Chanukah is more timely than ever before,” he said, drawing on the current waves of terrorism.
In light of the recent attacks in Paris, there was a special guest address from Myriam Boisbouvier-Wylie, honorary Consul General of France in Melbourne.
“The days have gone by, but the sorrow and incomprehension remain,” she said, adding, “Your demonstrations of solidarity and friendship illustrate how the essence of our humanity has not been shaken.”
PHOEBE ROTH
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