Bulgaria's President Parvanov (right) lit Sunday night the shamash candle of Hanukkah at Sofia's Central Synagogue initiating the beginning of the celebrations for the Jewish Festival of Lights. Photo by BGNES
Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov took part Sunday night in the celebration of Hanukkah by the Jewish community in Sofia.
Parvanov was invited to light the first shamash candle of Hanukkah at Sofia's Central Synagogue marking the beginning of the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights.
By tradition, the shamash is lit by a person respected by the Jewish community. This is the second time in a row the Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov has been given this privilege.
After the service in the Synagogue, the special celebration continued with a Hanukkah Night at the Jerusalem Hall of the Jewish Culture Center in Sofia.