(21 Dec 2008)
1. Wide of Hanukkah celebrations in square outside Kremlin
2. Mid pan of people dancing
3. Mid of children dancing
4. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Svetlana Kantor, Moscow resident:
"I think today is a fantastic day. The Jews can feel the light in their souls in the cold Moscow, people are smiling, everybody wants this light to spread all around our life and our people, it's great!"
5. Mid of boy with camera sitting on a man's shoulder
6. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Mikhail (no last name given), Moscow resident:
"I've been to Israel, I saw celebrations there. I didn't know that in Russia it's being celebrated in the same way - so cheerful and great. On this holiday, this day of light I came her to watch the celebrations and to have fun."
7. Wide of Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar addressing the crowd
8. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia:
"Congratulations, happy Hanukkah!"
9. Mid of people listening
10. Wide of people lightning menorah, zoom in
11. Mid of people watching the ceremony
12. Mid of Hanukkah illumination
13. Mid of people dancing
STORYLINE:
Over a thousand people took part in Hanukkah celebrations in Moscow on Sunday.
The traditional lighting of an eight-metre high menorah took place just outside the Kremlin.
Children and adults danced in the streets to traditional Jewish music.
At the lightning ceremony, the Russian Chief Rabbi spoke to the crowd to wish them a happy Hanukkah.
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is the most widely celebrated Jewish holiday.
Hanukkah commemorates the Jews' successful rebellion against suppression of their religion under the Syrian-Greek empire in 165 BC.
Led by the Maccabee family, the Jews drove the Greeks from Jerusalem and reclaimed the Jerusalem Temple for religious services.
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