American Jewish millionaire Lazer Scheiner reportedly invited members of the local Arab community to light the first candle of Hanukkah with the Jewish community. A video from the event shows Bahraini Arabs singing and dancing to hasidic music at the party marking the first night of Hanukkah.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa held the first Chanukah celebration in the country since 1948 in 2015. Rabbi Moshe Levin, director of the Conference of European Rabbis, met with the Bahraini King, before the lighting of candles at Manama synagogue.