Life

Tiananmen Square: Testifying to a Miracle of Liberation

By Dan Friedman December 13, 2009

It may be a light unto a whole different set of nations but in the capital of China the Hanukkah lights are shining bright. At the Zhengyang archery tower at the south end of Tiananmen Square, Beijing, a (very large) Hanukkiah is being lit to commemorate another people at another time who threw off the yoke of oppression to march to freedom (or at least to potentially misguided self-determination).

For a space better known for tanks crushing students, it’s nice to know there’s a light of hope shining. Word on the tastiness of Chinese sofganiot has yet to escape official censors.

Hat tip to our man in Beijing, Nick Frisch, and his Hanukkah revellers.

Dan Friedman is the former executive editor and whisky correspondent of the Forward, and is the author of a book about Tears for Fears, the ’80s emo rock band.

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