A very Kiwi event
Described as “a very Kiwi event,” the lighting of all eight Chanukah candles in front of Wellington’s Parliament Buildings during the MPs’ dinner break brought public celebration of the festival to a close.
Chris Penk, Professor Stephen Levine, Dame Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Rabbi Kuperman and daughter, Hon Chris Bishop, Simon Court MP, Jeremy Smith, Sam Treister, Vera Egermayer, David Zwartz, Rebbetzin Kuperman and baby son. (Photo: Mikaela Bossley)
Chabad Rabbi Elchanan Kuperman provided the electric Chanukiah (very appropriate for “windy Wellington”), Parliamentary Services provided the electricity, and Rebbetzin Henny Kuperman presented two home-made sufganyot to everyone there.
Security restrictions on the size of the gathering meant that about 15 people took part, including third-ranked National Party Cabinet Minister Chris Bishop; Chris Penk, who has five ministerial portfolios; and ACT Party Parliamentary Under-Secretaries Simon Court.
The politicians chatted in a relaxed, cosy way with Dame Winnie Laban, a Pasifika leader of Samoan and Jewish descent; her husband Peter Swain; and Wellington Jewish community leaders.
Jeremy Smith, former President of Wellington’s Progressive Temple Sinai congregation, briefly explained the history and meaning of Chanukah and its particular relevance to today’s conflict, and thanked the MPs for their continuing public support for the Jewish community.
Nobody else knew the words to the second verse of Maoz Tzur, so they enjoyed the Rabbi’s fine tenor voice singing it alone.
Among the candlelighters was Vera Egermayer, a child survivor of Terezin who was for many years the NZ Honorary Consul in Prague.
The ceremony was short because the politicians had to return to the Debating Chamber. Everyone else exchanged ‘Chag sameach’ warmly and drifted away to enjoy the Rebbetzin’s sufganyot at home.
