Since the establishment of International Association Israel-Azerbaijan "AzIz" the Azerbaijani community in Israel has developed a good tradition to combine the celebration of Jewish and Azerbaijani significant events. This happens on the eve of 2017, when one of the most important historical events for Jewish people - Hanukkah - coincided with the most important holiday of the Azerbaijani diaspora - the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis.
All these three holidays are equally important and loved by Azerbaijani diaspora, so "AzIz" has organized a series of events held in different cities of Israel. In the ancient city of Acre, on the day when Jews of the world lit the fourth candle, Azerbaijanis gathered to celebrate Hanukkah, the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and New Year. This celebration, organized by the Municipalities Absorption Department, was attended by the first deputy mayor of Acre Zeev Neumann and the head of Absorption Department Yelena Nebylitsina, who congratulated residents of the city and all people of Israel. Coordinator of projects with Caucasus peoples of Akko, member of directors board of "AzIz" Rauf Agalarov noted in his congratulatory message that the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis became for one of the most important holidays for Caucasian community.
On the day when fifth candle was lit, the city of Kiryat Bialik, which has a large Azerbaijani community, hosted the grand opening of "AzIz" branch office, which will be headed by the leader of Azerbaijani community of the city Sevin Hanukaev. The initiators of this idea are director general of "AzIz" Lev Spivak, deputy mayor of Kiryat Bialik Nahum Rachevsky and head of Absorption Department Alena Eisenberg, who promised to continue to assist Azerbaijani community of the city and provide full support to the newly formed "AzIz" office. Magnificent city choir and popular Azerbaijani singer Namik Idrisov performed at the event.
On the sixth day of Hanukkah, celebration has continued in the Azerbaijan Cultural Center, where the director of center Yegyana Salman told guests about the relatively young holiday of Azerbaijani diaspora - Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis, which was established by the national leader of Azerbaijani nation Heydar Aliyev in 1993 and is the most important holiday for all Azerbaijanis no matter where they live since. Celebration was accompanied by traditional Hanukkah treats, music, dances and songs. All events were organized with the support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and municipal councils of cities of Acre, Kiryat Bialik and Afula.
