Hillel cancels Chanukka ceremonies at Neukölln Town Hall

The Jewish educational organization Hillel has canceled its planned Chanukka ceremonies at the Neukölln Town Hall in Berlin. The organization decided to move the public lighting of the Chanukkia to a neutral location following the results of the September 20 district elections.

In Neukölln, the party Die Linke emerged as the strongest political force, receiving votes from one in three residents. The decision follows concerns regarding the party's leadership candidates, specifically Ahmed Abed. Abed previously gained notoriety for calling Tzvika Brot, the mayor of Neukölln's partner city Bat Yam and grandson of a Holocaust survivor, a ‘genocidist’ during a visit last October.

Outgoing mayor Martin Hikel expressed deep disappointment over the decision, stating that the removal of the Chanukkia symbolizes a departure of the representation of Jewish life from the district's official halls. The Chanukka celebrations at the town hall have historically been a major event, attracting approximately 250 attendees.