PROVIDENCE, RI - Governor Gina M. Raimondo issued the following statement today wishing Rhode Islanders a happy Hanukkah:
"This evening, Jews across Rhode Island and around the world will gather together to light the first candle and commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah. The Hanukkah tradition celebrates the strength of the human spirit - assuring us that, in the darkest of times, we have the power to spread the light. It's a story of struggle and triumph in the face of overwhelming odds. And it's a reminder that hatred will always lose out to hope.
"In Rhode Island, our diversity is our strength. In his letter to the Jewish community of Newport, President George Washington wrote that the United States 'gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.' This is Rhode Island's legacy, and it is a tradition we have kept alive and celebrated for centuries.
"From my family to yours, I wish everyone celebrating a very happy Hanukkah."