Chanukah in the City Draws 800 Brisbane Residents

More than 800 people, including Lord Mayor Campbell Newman and Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk, gathered in Brisbane, Australia’s Reddacliff Place to celebrate Chanukah.

The centerpiece of the nighttime celebration, which took place on the third night of the eight-day holiday, was a six-meter-high menorah, which was lit by Chabad-Lubavitch of Brisbane director Rabbi Levi Jaffe and Newman.

During the event, Sen. Claire Moore delivered a message from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who credited the ceremony with spreading “hope and thankfulness” throughout the city.

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Newman, who received a silver menorah from Jaffe, urged attendees to “open your hearts to light, dispelling the darkness and thinking about our community.”

The event was organized and sponsored by Chabad-Lubavitch of Brisbane with the support of the Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Marketing and the local Jewish community.

At the ceremony, Rabbi Levi Jaffe, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Brisbane, presented a silver menorah to Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.

Hundreds of people fill out Brisbane, Australia’s Reddacliff Place for a Chanukah menorah lighting on the third night of the eight-day holiday.

A children’s program kept the younger guests entertained.

At the ceremony, Rabbi Levi Jaffe, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Brisbane, presented a silver menorah to Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.

The evening’s centerpiece was a six-meter-high menorah, which was lit by Jaffe and Newman.

A children’s program kept the younger guests entertained.

Newman urged attendees to “open your hearts to light, dispelling the darkness and thinking about our community.”

The evening’s centerpiece was a six-meter-high menorah, which was lit by Jaffe and Newman.

Sen. Claire Moore delivered a message from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Newman urged attendees to “open your hearts to light, dispelling the darkness and thinking about our community.”

Sen. Claire Moore delivered a message from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.