It has become something of a tradition for the Panevėžys and Ukmergė Jewish communities to celebrate Hanukkah together. This year Hanukkah was celebrated at the Vakarinė Žara restaurant with a program drafted by both communities. About 100 members turned out for the holiday celebration including children and adults. Israeli ambassador to Lithuania Amir Maimon also attended with his wife Tal, as did Panevėžys mayor Rytis Račkauskas, members of the Panevėžys city council, Ukmergė regional administration Culture Department deputy director Julius Zareckas, Ukmergė Regional History Museum director Vaidutė Sakolnikienė, Ukmergė Tolerance Center director Vida Pulkauninkienė and other honored guests. The ceremony began with the lighting of the menorah. Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon lit the shamash candle and as Hanukkah music played lit the eight candles held by children.

The ambassador’s wife Tal Maimon lit the main menorah with mayor Račkauskas, Julius Zareckas, city council member Petrauskas, Panevėžys Jewish Community board of directors member Jurij Grafman, alderman Michail Grafman, Artūras Taicas and Panevėžys Jewish Community chairman Gennady Kofman. The room was filled with warmth and light, appropriate to Hanukkah, the festival of lights. Everyone danced to Hava Nagila.

Ambassador Maimon briefly told the story of Hanukkah and greeted all the participants with Hanukkah greetings. Panevėžys mayor Račkuskas also gave a greeting and wished for understanding, light and peace for all those present. Artūras Taicas passed on the greetings of Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky. Chairman Gennady Kofman explained the holiday foods, what the pancakes and doughnuts symbolize, and told of the three miracles which occurred 2,160 years ago. Toasts were made and celebrants tried the pancakes and doughnuts. Halfway through the celebration gifts were presented to the children, the children improvised a concert, Jewish music was played and the children played dreidl.