What is Hanukkah?

Jorge Bergoglio, as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, lighting the menorah at NCI-Emanue El on December 12th, 2012. Bergolgio was participating in the minor Talmudic religious ceremony called Hanukkah with two rabbis. At left is Rabbi Sergio Bergman, and in the middle is Rabbi Alejandro Avruj. Hanukkah is heavily promoted by Chabad-Lubavitch a hasidic sect with their public displays of menorahs across the world.

• Hanukkah: A Brief Introduction

• The Hanukkah Hoax

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was a regular at the shul

Rabbi Sergio Bergman, Rabbi Alejandro Avruj and Jorge Mario Bergoglio at the synagogue

“For Pope Francis, this is just part of his life. He was a regular in shul [synagogue]...It’s an intimacy based on experience.”

director of interreligious relations 

for the American Jewish Committee
- Rabbi Noam Marans -

(left to right) Rabbi David Rosen,  Rabbi Noam Marans and David Inlander present 

Francis with a photo of Rabbi Abraham Heschel and Cardinal Augustin Bea.