site.btaPresident Radev Participates in Candle-lighting Ritual for Hanukkah

Sofia, December 18 (BTA) - President Rumen Radev participated in a candle-lighting ceremony for Hanukkah in Sofia's Central Synagogue on Sunday. "In the Hanukkah days, the menorahs on the windowsills do not light up the Jewish homes only. Their light shows us that the biggest miracle - living together in peace and understanding, is in our hands," said the President during the ritual as quoted by his Press Secretariat.

He said it was an honour for his wife and himself to share the holiday. "I am honoured to be lighting one of the candles in the hanukkiah and continue the tradition in which the Bulgarian head of State observes this beautiful festival of light together with the Jewish community in Bulgaria," he said.

He noted that Bulgarian people know how to celebrate the holidays of all communities in this country.

Radev recalled that Bulgarian people refused to allow their Jewish compatriots to be sent to the Nazi death camps and this "miracle of the rescue in the dark days of World War Two" was no chance. "If extreme nationalism and extremist political views try to sneak into our everyday life again, to rewrite out history and pass the contagion of hatred to our children, I can assure you that we will be together again in the struggle for the good and justice," the President said in his remarks.