“Light is the only thing that can chase away darkness when it needs to be chased away, “ said European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans in remarks made at an event to celebrate Chanukah, the Jewish holiday of Lights, under his patronage at the Commission premises in Brussels.

He recalled the peaceful legacy of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, as he said “even if your message is good and strong… for dialogue you need personal contact. For peace you need to talk to people you disagree with“.

Referencing the recent increased terrorist threat across Europe’s capitals, Frans Timmermans called on Europeans “to understand why a part of the youth of our own society, born here, raised here, embraces a culture of death, embraces darkness, turns against their fellow citizens in their own society“, as he concluded his message with a note of hope for the future, saying that ‘’At the end of the day, light is what brings us a joint future, light is what brings hope to our children, light is what inspires us most because it brings what our children need, and that is a world where peace prevails“.

Before lighting the menorah, he presented the newly appointed EU Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism, Katharina von Schnurbein, who will report to him, insisting that he takes a huge interest in this subject ‘’ because I believe it is essential for our common future. Terrorism always starts with the Jews, but it never stops there.’’

Also addressing an audience of ambassadors to the EU, Members of the European Parliament and members of Belgium’s Jewish community, Nehama Uzan, Programme Director of the European Jewish Community Center (EJCC), which organizes the annual event, introduced the award of the “Share the Light” prize to the Muslim-Jewish French founders of the “le silence des justes” project for children with autism.

Stephane Benhamou and Daoud Tatou, themselves the subjects of a documentary short by the directors of the award-winning film Intouchable, were given the award in recognition of their efforts to go “beyond their religious differences and used their values as a drive to perfect this world“, said Uzan.

Emphasising the message of Chanukah, EJCC Director Rabbi Avi Tawil reflected that "the fate of nations lies not in military victory but in the message transmitted to children at home in celebration. If they learn to celebrate love, life and freedom they will build a society of love, life and freedom".

Calling for solidarity in these common values, amidst a climate of increasing unease amongst Europe’s Jewish communities, he concluded: "Today more that ever we have to celebrate together and not to hide in fear. To be joyous for the happiness of others who celebrate in a different way."