The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, on the occasion of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, sent a congratulation message to the members of the Jewish community.

Respected citizens,

It is my honor and pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations to all the members of the Jewish community in our country on the occasion of the Jewish festival of Lights - Hanukkah.

The Hanukkah holiday celebrates freedom, victory over tyranny, and, above all, freedom of human spirit. The lightning of the candles symbolizes the continuous burning of oil in the Maccabean Temple of Victory. Victory means celebrating the triumph over violence and oppression. Reviewing history, I cannot but mention the numerous sufferings and ordeals of the members of the Jewish community, who always managed to find the light of the day. The strive to victory, the quest for a better life and many sacrifices have made the Jews a symbol of rebellion, fight, self-awareness and fairness.

Therefore, today united, we continue the path to the overall development and prosperity, creating a better living standard and promoting mutual relations with mutual respect, celebrating tradition and shared principles of equality and freedom.

With the traditional greeting HAG HANUKKAH SAMEACH, I congratulate you the holiday of light and victory, wishing you pleasant festive days.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov