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Tonight, as darkness cloaked Eretz Israel, we lit the first
candle of Chanukah. The wicks, floating in vials of olive oil, flickered as they brought light into the night. This is symbolic of the Jewish people; our mission
is to light up a dark world.
candle of Chanukah. The wicks, floating in vials of olive oil, flickered as they brought light into the night. This is symbolic of the Jewish people; our mission
is to light up a dark world.
Our contemporary world is cloaked in a very thick black
cloth, where many try to deflect our light into darkness with lies, hatred and
acts of terror. Despite these threats, dangers and bloody acts, the enemies still do not understand that our very DNA instructs us to create,
invent and give. Despite all. For this is our essence.
cloth, where many try to deflect our light into darkness with lies, hatred and
acts of terror. Despite these threats, dangers and bloody acts, the enemies still do not understand that our very DNA instructs us to create,
invent and give. Despite all. For this is our essence.
One recent tragedy was the massacre of five innocent men in Har Nof, including
four rabbis who were slaughtered while in the midst of prayer, draped in
tefillin and tallit. These innocent, unarmed civilians and one policeman were
murdered in cold blood with butchers’ knives and guns.
four rabbis who were slaughtered while in the midst of prayer, draped in
tefillin and tallit. These innocent, unarmed civilians and one policeman were
murdered in cold blood with butchers’ knives and guns.
Their widows and orphans did not cry for revenge or for more
spilled blood. They did not riot in the streets or spew hatred. They did not insist
on more bloodshed to avenge their deep loss and their spiritual leaders did not
call for destruction.
spilled blood. They did not riot in the streets or spew hatred. They did not insist
on more bloodshed to avenge their deep loss and their spiritual leaders did not
call for destruction.
These widows and orphans cried. They buried their loved ones
and beseeched the world to bring in light to elevate the souls of their lost husbands,
fathers and grandfathers–to help redeem us from darkness. The community spoke wise words of Torah to counter this evil while the families issued a letter calling for solidarity, love and peace.
Here is what they said:
and beseeched the world to bring in light to elevate the souls of their lost husbands,
fathers and grandfathers–to help redeem us from darkness. The community spoke wise words of Torah to counter this evil while the families issued a letter calling for solidarity, love and peace.
Here is what they said:
With broken hearts, drenched in tears shed over the spilt blood of
holy men – the heads of our families. We call on our brethren
wherever they are – let us come together so that we may merit mercy from
Heaven, and let’s accept upon ourselves to increase love and comradery, between
each individual and each community.
holy men – the heads of our families. We call on our brethren
wherever they are – let us come together so that we may merit mercy from
Heaven, and let’s accept upon ourselves to increase love and comradery, between
each individual and each community.
We ask that every person accept upon himself on this Sabbath
Eve (Parshat Toldot, November 21-22, 2014), to set aside the day of Shabbat as
a day of unconditional love, a day during which we will refrain from words of
disagreement and division, from words of gossip and slander.
Eve (Parshat Toldot, November 21-22, 2014), to set aside the day of Shabbat as
a day of unconditional love, a day during which we will refrain from words of
disagreement and division, from words of gossip and slander.
May this serve to elevate the souls of our husbands and
fathers who were slaughtered while sanctifying God’s name. God will look down
from the heavens, see our suffering, wipe away our tears and put an end to our
tribulations.
fathers who were slaughtered while sanctifying God’s name. God will look down
from the heavens, see our suffering, wipe away our tears and put an end to our
tribulations.
May we merit seeing the coming of our Moshiach (Messiah)
speedily in our days. Amen.
speedily in our days. Amen.
Signed with a torn heart,
Mrs. Chaya Levin and family
Mrs. Bryna Goldberg and family
Mrs. Yaacova Kupensky and family
Mrs. Bashy Twersky and family
In
focusing on a world of unconditional love, peace and truth, these families
flooded the world with light.
focusing on a world of unconditional love, peace and truth, these families
flooded the world with light.
To
elevate our celebration of the Jewish Festival of Lights this year, one
creative metal sculptor decided to carve hannukiahs out of rockets. Shrapnel
from fallen Kassams that terrorized Israeli civilians, evil shards from rockets
that crashed into Israeli children’s bedrooms, caved in kindergartens and terrorized
busy roads, were used by artist Yaron Bob to turn instruments of death into
vehicles of light.
elevate our celebration of the Jewish Festival of Lights this year, one
creative metal sculptor decided to carve hannukiahs out of rockets. Shrapnel
from fallen Kassams that terrorized Israeli civilians, evil shards from rockets
that crashed into Israeli children’s bedrooms, caved in kindergartens and terrorized
busy roads, were used by artist Yaron Bob to turn instruments of death into
vehicles of light.
Etched
into the menorahs are the words ‘beat their swords into plowshares.’ These meaningful
words are from the Book of Yeshayahu (chapter 2, verse 4):
into the menorahs are the words ‘beat their swords into plowshares.’ These meaningful
words are from the Book of Yeshayahu (chapter 2, verse 4):
And he shall judge between the nations and
reprove many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and
their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift the sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
reprove many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and
their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift the sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Called Rockets into Roses, Israel is once again showing the world light, transforming death
and darkness into beauty, meaning, hope and peace. To complete his mission of hopefulness, this
artist is donating a portion of the sales to building portable bomb shelters in
the south of Israel.
and darkness into beauty, meaning, hope and peace. To complete his mission of hopefulness, this
artist is donating a portion of the sales to building portable bomb shelters in
the south of Israel.
This mindset is
natural to the Jewish people and reminds me of the selfless words of Racheli Fraenkel whose son Naftali was murdered by terrorists last June. She does not speak of bitterness
and hatred, rather she focuses on unity and dignity.
natural to the Jewish people and reminds me of the selfless words of Racheli Fraenkel whose son Naftali was murdered by terrorists last June. She does not speak of bitterness
and hatred, rather she focuses on unity and dignity.
The more darkness
tries to gain a foothold in Israel, the harder we push back with light. This is
our mission and we take it seriously.
tries to gain a foothold in Israel, the harder we push back with light. This is
our mission and we take it seriously.
So when we light our
menorahs over the next seven days of Chanukah, we should express thanks for the many miracles G-d has sent us and endeavor to bring an abundance of light into a
seemingly dim, bleak world.
menorahs over the next seven days of Chanukah, we should express thanks for the many miracles G-d has sent us and endeavor to bring an abundance of light into a
seemingly dim, bleak world.
Let us pray that ‘nation shall not lift the sword against nation, neither shall they
learn war anymore.’
learn war anymore.’
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Hannukah Sameach
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