Candles in memory of the Jews who fought for the freedom of the mankind will burn during eight days. The Jewish Community in Moldova and the Congress of the Jews of Moldova held an event in the central park's Europe Square on December 11 to mark the beginning of the celebration of Hanukkah, Info-Prim Neo reports. Teodor Magda, adviser to the presidents of the Jewish organizations in Moldova, said that this is a historical holiday that originated several thousands of years ago. It marks the victory won by a group of Jewish fighters over the army of the Emperor of Greece and Syria, Antioch. “That was the first fight for freedom and rights in the human history. That's why, it has a universal value and forms the basis of Hanuka, which means sanctification,” Teodor Magda said. Gheorghi Panaiotov, the new Ambassador of Bulgaria to Moldova, said a small group of people had the courage to face a numerous and powerful army and won a victory by its own forces. “Hanuka is the feast of light and family. It represents unity, freedom and the right to live in democracy,” the Ambassador said. Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the second century.