JTA: Global Jewish News - 12.22.2006

Yuschenko lights menorah

(JTA) — Ukraine’s president participated in a Chanukah ceremony in Kiev’s central synagogue. 

In what has become an annual tradition since he ran for president three years ago, Viktor Yuschenko made an appearance Wednesday in the Brodsky Synagogue to celebrate Chanukah. 

Wearing a kipah and accompanied by his family, Yuschenko delivered Chanukah greetings to the Jewish community and lit a candle. 

Yuschenko said the Jewish festival shows that “many pages in the history of the Ukrainian and Jewish people are common,” and that both peoples “embrace the good and hate the evil.”