Light in the darkness

This evening the Scottish National Chanukah Celebration took place in St Andrews Square in Edinburgh. I had been asked by my friend Professor Joe Goldblatt to attend and say a few words at the reception afterwards , which was held in the magnificently restored RBS building on the square.

The event, which has taken place every year since 2007, features the lighting of a huge menorah, which is done by the Rabbi from a cherrypicker truck using a blow torch.

At the reception I used the traditional Chanukah greeting " Gmar chatimah tovah " to talk about keeping light and hope in our hearts and liberal values to the fore given the darkness in the world today.

The greeting hopes that each person will be 'sealed totally for good” - a wonderful image and a transformation needed more than ever.