Sydney’s Heroes
“Please,” my children begged. “Turn off the menorah. Our house is going to become a target,” Sorella recalled in a tearful interview with Sky News.
The family had just returned from the Chanukah event at Bondi Beach hosted by Chabad with over 1000 people in attendance. They had managed to escape physically unharmed, but were deeply traumatized after witnessing the massacre that claimed 15 lives and left dozens more wounded.
Never Give Up
A story is told of the holy Maggid of Mezritch (1704-1772). Once, his young son came running to him in tears. The Maggid comforted him and asked him why he was crying. The child began to explain that he had been playing a game of hide-and-seek with his friends but he hid so well that he was never found.
“So why are you crying, didn't you play really well?", asked the Maggid.
A Light from the U.S. Capitol to Ukraine’s Presidential Bunker
U.S. House and Senate leaders recently gathered on Capitol Hill for a Chanukah menorah lighting, showcasing a special display of unity. Leading the ceremony were House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Rabbi Levi Shemtov of Chabad of Washington, D.C.
From Berlin to Gaza
It was the eighth night of Chanukah in Kiel, Germany, a small town with a Jewish population of 500. That year, 1931, the last night Chanukah fell on Friday evening, and Rabbi Akiva Boruch Posner, spiritual leader of the town was hurrying to light the Menorah before the Shabbat set in.
Chanukah-What are we celebrating?
Every holiday is commemorated with its unique Mitzvot, traditions and customs that reflect the nature of the miracle or event that occurred.For example, on Passover we conduct a Seder, eat Matzah, bitter herbs and drink four cups of wine to relive and recount the story of the slavery and ultimate redemption of our ancestors from Egypt many years ago.