Pacific Port Marks Chanukah

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia – In the Russian Far East, in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok, Jewish residents widely celebrated Chanukah. The main event was a concert featuring the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, which performed a whole array of music of Jewish composers, with a repertoire spanning the past three centuries.

On the first day of Chanukah, music lovers of all nationalities filled the large concert hall and joined together in marking this age-old Jewish holiday. More than six hundred spectators were only too pleased to participate in and learn about the tradition of lighting the candles of the Chanukah Menorah, in addition to enjoying an eloquent performance of Jewish composers’ greatest works.

In addition to members of the Jewish community of Vladivostok – a member of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia – and their guests, the concert also involved a good number of high-profile individuals who lead in their respective sphere, whether it be politics, business, education, cultural, social and humanitarian affairs.

Representatives of the Administration of Primorskiy Krai took this opportunity to congratulate Jews on the Holiday of Light, as did officials from the Vladivostok City Council and Municipal Government. Such warm wishes and salutations were also echoed by diplomats representing the Consulates of the USA, Japan, India and South Korea.

The celebration culminated in a joyous concert featured the greatest compositions of Felix Mendelsohn, Gustav Mahler, Jacques Offenbach and contemporary composer Dmitry Krymov (from Russia), a remarkable show by the Orchestra conducted by Mikhail Arkadyev, as well as a virtuoso performance by soloists Olga Benush and Mark Maryasov. The audience was thrilled with this Chanukah celebration, which also received media coverage.

From fjc.ru