Hanukkah celebrations in Madrid move indoors due to security concerns

Adolf Goebbels
Published on Dec 19, 2023
(13 Dec 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Madrid - 13 December 2023
1. Various of emergency vehicles and personnel
2. 2Various of Rabbi Moshe Bendahan lighting candles during ceremony
3. Mid of audience
4. Bendahan performing ceremony
5. Close of phone
6. Madrid Jews Community President Estrella Bengio onstage
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Estrella Bengio, Madrid Jews Community President:
"To the cruel and barbaric murders, rapes and kidnappings has been added the shameful silence of some and the painful hatred of others, which takes us back to the worst episodes of our history. It is difficult to celebrate when we are not all here, when so many are missing, more than 1,400 victims of the massacre, the thousands of wounded and the more than one hundred hostages still held hostage by Hamas, who remind us how fragile life is and how vulnerable peace is."
8. Mayor of Madrid Jose Luis Martinez Almeida lighting a candle
9. Mid of Almeida talking with attendees
10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jose Luis Martinez Almeida, Mayor of Madrid:
"This should make the Spanish government reflect, it should make it understand that it is not possible to be equidistant between a terrorist group and a state of law that is defending itself, between aggressors and victims and that, therefore, what must be done is to defend peace, coexistence and freedom, but always with the clarity of knowing who the terrorists are and who is defending themselves."
11. Musician playing
12. Rabbi listening
13. Audience listening
14. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Frederic Ankaoua, member of the Jewish community in Madrid:
"It is a Hanukkah different from all the others, obviously, with all the darkness that there is now in Israel. Hanukkah represents light, and we hope that we will bring light to the families that are there (in Israel), especially to the hostages that are still in Gaza."
15. People taking pictures
16. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Esther Bendahan, member of the Jewish community in Madrid:
"To my friends in Israel I say to keep lighting these candles so that soon next year these candles can be celebrated in peace, I believe that we must not forget that shalom, that salaam, is the most important thing for everyone."
17. Balloon reading (English) "Happy Hanukkah"
STORYLINE:
Hanukkah celebrations in Madrid moved from its usual location in a central outdoor square to an indoor auditorium for security reasons on Wednesday.

The event also reflected on the recent Israel-Hamas war with many thinking of the hostages that were taken on Oct. 7.

"To the cruel and barbaric murders, rapes and kidnappings has been added the shameful silence of some and the painful hatred of others, which takes us back to the worst episodes of our history," said Madrid Jews Community President Estrella Bengio.

The ceremony included music performances and the lighting of candles.

"It is a Hanukkah different from all the others, obviously, with all the darkness that there is now in Israel," added an attendee.

A menorah is lit nightly during the eight-day Jewish festival, which this year is being celebrated from Dec. 7 until Friday.

AP video shot by Alicia Leon.

===========================================================

Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/

You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/8f8c8c58851e4f618960bfb132118193