Hanukkah celebrations begin at Israel's Expo 2020 pavilion

Elazar Cohen, commissioner general of the Israel pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, Rabbi Levi Duchman, Nave Shachar, director of the Jewish National Fund for the Expo and GCC region, Solly Wolf, president of the Jewish Community UAE, Ilan Sztulman, head of mission of the Israel consulate, during the opening of the Hanukkah festival at Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Israel pavilion

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah began at Expo 2020 Dubai on Sunday night with the first candle lighting at the Israel pavilion. Reuters

A woman talks to members of the Jewish community during events to mark Hanukkah at the world's fair in Dubai. Reuters

A menorah is lit as visitors gather around it. Reuters

Various members of the Jewish community, officials and visitors attended the events to mark Hanukkah. Reuters

Menachem Gantz, the spokesman for the Israeli pavilion gives his speech during the Hanukkah celebrations. EPA

Rabbi Levi Duchman lights a large menorah. AFP

Emiratis stand in front of a large menorah. AFP

The lighting ceremony was followed by performances. AFP

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah began at Expo 2020 Dubai on Sunday night with the first candle lighting at the Israeli pavilion.

Rabbi Levi Duchman, the first Rabbi of Dubai, lit the first candle on the Hanukkiah – a symbolic nine-candle holder.

The festival lasts eight nights and at its heart is the nightly Hanukkiah lighting at sunset.

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BC.

“This is a very exciting evening. Last year we lit the Hanukkiah in the world's tallest building, and now we’re lighting it at the world's largest show," said Rabbi Duchman

"Lighting the Hanukkiah at our pavilion that is without walls and open to everyone, is an invitation to share our light with all participants and visitors of the Expo 2020.”

The lighting ceremony was followed by performances from the Israeli reggae band Anna RF, a Jewish community choir and the distribution of traditional Sufganiyot –holiday doughnuts – to guests.