Ukraine – Kiev Chabad’s Rabbi Moshe Azman said in an interview with Arutz Sheva on Sunday that some of the scheduled Hanukkah proceedings were canceled because of the unsafe situation in the city due to the country’s recent violence.
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As reported by Israel National News (http://bit.ly/1isWl9E) the rabbi stated he was afraid that some of the violence would directed at Jews and that according to rumors, the government intends to send military reinforcements to Kiev.
According to the AP an estimated 100,000 to more than 350,000 people rallied at Kiev’s Independence Square on Sunday, challenging a ban imposed one day earlier. Protesters are demanding new elections and for President Viktor Yanukovych’s government to resign. And on Monday Thousands of protesters besieged the government buildings in Ukraine’s capital.
A Hanukkah menorah was lit on Sunday at Kiev’s Central Synagogue, just a few hundred meters from Independence Square. Rabbi Azman requested reinforced security from the police, but he states the police did not show up. It was then that he announced the cancellation of all events and performances.
The rabbi says his main concern is that the situation will be used as an excuse to take out their anger on easy targets. He also added that one of the parties protesting is anti-Semitic.
He is right.