Gush Katif Museum, the fifth candle was dedicated to Yonatan Pollard, a prisoner of Zion

Pollard's message from jail: After my release I'll visit Jerusalem and Gush Katif Museum

Thousands attended "Chanukah at the Gush Katif Museum", participated in the candle lighting and told stories of miracles and heroism

In an impressive ceremony, the fifth candle was lit, dedicated to Prisoner of ZionYonatan Pollard at the Gush Katif Museum in Jerusalem,. His wife Esther Pollard participated, along with the security officer of Gush Katif, Ami Shaked and senior public figures. The fifth candle was lit at the ceremony by Ami Shaked, who told stories of miracles and heroism of Gush Katif and Ms. Sara Amichai.

The highlight of the evening was the speech of Mrs. Esther Pollard who gave a warm regards to the participants at the museum from her husband Yonatan Pollard, with whom she spoke before coming to the museum. "Jonathan said to tell of the great importance he sees the perpetuation of Gush Katif in the heart of Jerusalem, and urged me to attend the special ceremony at the museum.  He added that his first visit to Jerusalem will be to the Gush Katif Museum to honor the real heroes of our generation, "said Mrs Pollard.

The candles were lit in the special mortars menorah displayed in the Museum, created by Gideon Rivlin, may Hashem avenge his blood, who was murdered just months before the expulsion. The Menorah is built from parts of mortars that miraculously had not damaged lives, and bears evidence of the great miracles experienced by the people of Gush Katif. During Chanukah the menorah was lit in honor of the soldier Gilad Shalit and the IDF soldiers, by Leizer Amitai, a Border Police officer from Kfar Darom.  Every night of Chanuka Gush Katif residents regaled museum visitors with miracle stories from their life experiences in the Gush.

Gush Katif Museum Director Shlomo Wasserteil, who organized the events during the Hanukah holiday, told of the many thousands who visited the museum during the festival, which was a huge asset to the continued activity of the museum in the heart of the capital. Visitors enjoyed large discounts on Gush Katif products, and participated in a raffle of Gush Katif products.

Many artists and writers enhanced the Chanukah experience at the museum, among Ephraim Menashri who presented the many events of miracles and heroism in the Gush, singer Aaron Razel, Ayala Azran of Neveh Dekalim (Ein Tzurim), Anita Mentzer of Netzer Chazani Toker (Ein Tzurim) who spoke about the wonderful miracles that never ceased for a moment, Ami Shaked, the  security officer of Gush Katif who told some stories of heroism bloc, Ami pointed out "that each and every one of the residents of Gush Katif was a story of heroism in itself" and we were only messengers!

David Nahon, a Yamit expellee, lit the sixth candle and Dr. Sadi Namir, doctor of Gush Katif, who was a partner in almost every rescue of victims of terrorism, also accompanied the evening playing 'al hanissim'- thanking Hashem for the miracles. Dr. Efraim Tashnedi, principal of the "Neot Katif School, shared the evening with him. Dr. Ephraim told of the children's behavior in light of events which were not self-evident, and noted the fact that on the day that 80 rockets bombarded the area; the school was not closed in an attempt to continue their regular life.  Drs. Sadi and Ephraim exchanged experiences and gave much thanks to Hashem to have merited to be messengers and who have been part of the unforgettable story.

Dr Miriam Freiman told the story of a Jew from Russia who came to Gush Katif , and along with her saw the movie "Freiman's kitchen. Wasserteil sums the days of Chanukkah in one sentence: this tune can not be stopped ..

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