BOSTON — Four Jewish state leaders – Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Senate President Karen Spilka, Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem and Sen. Becca Rausch – took turns kindling the menorah at the State House Wednesday evening, as the festival of Hanukkah reached its halfway point.
The annual ceremony drew elected officials, Cabinet secretaries, Jewish leaders and community members to the Grand Staircase, including Consul General of Israel to New England Benjamin Sharoni, Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Secretary of State Bill Galvin, Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper, Interim Transportation Secretary Phil Eng, Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz.
As speakers reflected on the antisemitic attack in Australia on Sunday, Galvin lamented there is a “sinister note to this year’s celebration.”
“Unfortunately because of international developments, we have seen hate flourish during this year since we were last here,” Galvin said. “International developments are no excuse for hate. There is never an excuse for murder. And it’s all the more important for those of us who are not Jewish to call it out immediately.”
Michlewitz called antisemitism a “worldwide epidemic.” The North End Democrat stressed that Massachusetts needs to “lead the way” in confronting the issue, as he pointed to new recommendations from the state’s antisemitism commission.