Hundreds Gather on Dam to Celebrate Hanukkah
AMSTERDAM—Hundreds of people gathered on the Dam in Amsterdam tonight to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights. The celebration featured the lighting of a large, nine-branched menorah, as well as speeches by prominent figures, including BBB leader Van der Plas.
Van der Plas spoke about the challenging times the Jewish community is facing. "We’re going through difficult times. Difficult than it has been for years," she said. "If we look back through history, we see that the Jewish people have endured many difficult times."
She praised the Jewish community’s resilience, saying, "Despite the challenges we face, despite the divisions in the world, the light of the Jewish community continues to shine."
Van der Plas also reflected on the recent terror attack in Israel, where over 1,200 people were killed and 251 kidnapped by Hamas. "The fear that was there, and is still there, has never gone away," she said. "It has smoldered, perhaps, but with the pogrom on October 7, it has flared up again."
Emile Schrijver, director of the Jewish Cultural Quarter, also spoke, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and sympathy. The event was peaceful, with a significant police presence on the Dam.
Hanukkah, also known as the "Festival of Lights," is celebrated by lighting one additional candle on a menorah each night for eight nights. It commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt. This year, the holiday is being celebrated worldwide from Wednesday, December 25, to Thursday, January 2.
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