Arrr, the Polish captains be merry as they take part in Hanukkah, after a scallywag of a lawmaker blows out the menorah flame!
2023-12-14
Arr! Tis a merry sight me eyes beheld! Polish leaders, hand in hand with the Jewish brethren, did partake in jolly celebrations o' Hanukkah. Ahoy! But a scallywag named Grzegorz Braun thought to douse the parliamentary menorah wit' a fire extinguisher! Mayhaps he be needin' a taste o' the plank!
Top Polish leaders, including the president and the speaker of parliament, attended a Hanukkah celebration in parliament as a response to a far-right lawmaker's antisemitic behavior earlier in the week. The incident involved the lawmaker using a fire extinguisher to put out burning candles on a menorah, injuring a woman in the process. The presence of high-ranking officials at the Hanukkah event sent a strong message that Poland has no tolerance for such behavior.Rabbi Shalom Ber Stambler, who has organized the Hanukkah event for many years, expressed the importance of dispelling darkness through light. President Andrzej Duda and parliament speaker Szymon Holownia lit candles on the last night of the festival, accompanied by other Jewish community members.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who was unable to attend the event as he was at a European Union summit in Brussels, also condemned the earlier incident. Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich emphasized the unity within the country, stating, "We are all together."
The far-right lawmaker responsible for the disruption and scandal, Grzegorz Braun, has a history of controversial actions, including disrupting a lecture by a Holocaust scholar and making false claims about a plot to turn Poland into a "Jewish state." As a result of his actions, he was banned from the parliament building.
Poland, once home to a large Jewish community, suffered greatly during the Holocaust, with the majority of its Jewish population being murdered by Nazi German forces.
In conclusion, the Hanukkah celebration in parliament served as a powerful response to the antisemitic incident, demonstrating Poland's commitment to tolerance and unity. The presence of top leaders and the lighting of candles symbolized the country's rejection of darkness and the importance of dispelling it with light. The far-right lawmaker responsible for the incident faced consequences for his actions and was banned from the parliament building. Poland's history during the Holocaust, in which its Jewish community was decimated, adds further significance to the country's commitment to combating antisemitism.