To all our dear Jewish Friends in Israel, Germany and all over the world!
Our dear Jewish friends,
it is the last day of our calendar year 2024.
today evening I am lighting the 7th candle on our Hanukkah candlestick in our home.
I had previously switched off all the electric lights. The room is dark.
It is not for nothing that Hanukkah will be celebrated in the dark season.
I’m always amazed at how much the little candles light up the darkness.
Then I look outside at the sky and remember great photos of the Earth taken by astronauts.
How small the earth is compared to the whole of space.
And yet beautiful!
We only have this one world. For all people!
And yet there are despots, rulers, madmen, tyrants and terrorists who are destroying it.
Why?
They are destroying everyone’s lives and their own.
Hanukkah reminds us of the fight against evil in the world, against tyranny, oppression and for the preservation of faith.
Let us do everything we can to take responsibility together for our world, for our fellow human beings, our children, grandchildren and all future generations.
Those who destroy the world destroy the future.
Only peace guarantees life.
Let us not tire of fighting against evil and for this peace on earth.
And let us believe that ultimately the light will displace the darkness and the hope for peace will not be extinguished.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, our Jewish friends. Always!
We are on the threshold of the new year 2025 and wish you and us freedom and peace.
From the bottom of our hearts!
God bless and protect you!
Warm greetings and best wishes to
Hanukkah 5785 !
On behalf of the board and all the members of the Friendship Association
„Freundeskreis Beer Sheva e. V.“ in Wuppertal;
yours
Arno Gerlach
(Chairman)