Hanukkah welcome in Dubai - 16th December 2020

Hanukkah is a famous holiday. It is the Jewish Festival of Lights. These people are in the United Arab Emirates. This is the UAE's first public Hanukkah.

This year, the UAE and Israel made some new rules. The two countries now work together.

Hanukkah is about good things. Rabbi Marc Schneier is American. He thanks God for this situation.

Rabbi: "And celebrating Hanukkah here in Dubai, in 2020, I have to salute God's miracle workers, who are greatly responsible for making this modern day miracle happen."

Gil Gurevitch is from Israel. He wants a good future for everyone.

Gil: "It's a dream come true and it's a miracle and this is Hanukkah, it's to light candle that will be light. It says 'hor', 'hor' in Hebrew and this is what just happened. It's made 'hor' and I hope this peace, Inshallah, will bring all the Israeli here and all the Emirates there."

Gurevitch reserved 50 rooms in a Dubai hotel. The restaurant food is kosher. Jewish people can visit the hotel on the Sabbath. This is when people rest and pray.

Gurevitch put the mezuzah outside each room. Jewish homes have a mezuzah next to the door.

Rabbi Schneier is happy. Israel and the UAE are now friends.

Rabbi: "It has tremendous meaning and significance to actually participate, to witness, to experience the miracle of Gulf-Israel relations and the exponential growth of Jewish life here in Dubai."