Chanuka: The Soul is the candle of G-d

B"H

Hey everyone,

Two Sunday nights from now (Dec. 21st), the 1st candle on the Chanukah Menorah will be lit.

If Chanukah could be expressed in 3 words, I think it would be: "Light overcoming darkness." The "Festival of Lights" commemorates the tiny Maccabee army's miraculous defeat of Antiochus IV and his Greek army in 2nd-century B.C.E. They had been desecrating our holy temple, abusing our people and suppressing any form of Jewish practice. 1 cruse of pure oil was somehow found, and miraculously lasted for 8 nights, shining its light to the now free Jews.

Our sages tell us, that the miracles of Chanukah should be greatly publicized. The miracles that G-d Performed for us then, must be remembered and felt today in our times. Chabad houses around the world are arranging their annual huge menorahs to be lit at your local mall or government building. Why? To remind us that "light" can and must shine through the apparent darkness we see. When terrorists brutally murder a young dedicated Jewish couple in India, we turn this cruelty into kindness, from darkness to light. (see here: http://www.chabad.org/special/campaigns/chabadindia/mitzvot_cdo/aid/773655/jewish/What-Can-I-Do.htm).
That's our job as Jews, as G-dly souls in this world, "The soul of man is the candle of G-d." Placed to be a light in this world to shine. We jews are lamplighters. So when we light the candles this yr. and enjoy the sweet doughnuts and latkas, let's remember that this candle's light we are lighting, can and must be extended through us into every corner of the world; beginning with the corner we are found in. One more mitzvah, one more helping hand, one more smile can overturn worlds. It only takes 1 candle to light up a dark room; one kind gesture to a lonely person who feels dark inside. Light up their world! A little light expels a lot of darkness. Imagine what a lot of light can do? As lamplighters, it's been our 4,000 year job. May we merit our overdue payment with the coming of Moshiach Now!

An Eternal Lesson: Gabi & Rivkah of Mumbai

B"H

A beautiful video tribute on youtube for the slain Chabad couple of Mumbai, showing how they lived in India and their work before their passing. We can learn a lot from their selflessness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeRAxIPKzuY&eurl=http://www.crownheights.info/


*[A short word on the Torah portion of the week in connection to the video]:

In this week's Torah portion, Yakov our forefather leaves his home & its holy surroundings, where he had lived all his life. He flees his evil brother Eisav, travelling to the equally evil Lavan, his uncle. "Yakov was a man of the tent...
a blemishless person." At home he had learned Torah all day long, living a completely holy life w/ his father Issac and mother Rivkah.
Yakov lives under Lavan for 20 yrs., working as a shepherd. He marries Leah and Rachel, and has 12 children, all righteous; the '12 tribes of Israel.' Yakov worked and worked. He worked honestly, yes, but he never had the chance to ever relax and learn G-d's word, to devote his energy solely to his Creator. YET where does the Torah say Yakov succeeded in his life? Where he fulfilled his life's mission? Under Lavan, away from his home and holy surroundings. On his way to Lavan, Yakov only had a vision of G-d inba dream. On his way back to his parents in Israel, G-d Appears to Yakov while he's awake. He reached a higher level through living with Lavan and dealing honestly in business with him, refining the world and raising good Jewish children, than through sitting in solitude in pure holiness. Specifically through his descent into the world; there did Yakov fulfill G-d's Will and intention for him in this world. There he raised such a special family. There he stayed true to his belief and morals amidst wordly matters. As the father of the Jewish children,
Yakov teaches us how we must live: In the world, but above it. Never wavering from his goals, focused on living an honest, true life as a chosen one of G-d.
This is how Gaby and Rivka Holtzberg lived. In a land of idol worship (India) and no kosher food or family/friends, far from their holy land (both born in Israel), they stayed dedicated to G-d and fellow Jews. Never complaining, always smiling (see video), these 2 special Jews lived life the way Yakov our father taught us, and empowered us.
Let's live in the world, yet uplift it-thorough 1 more kind deed, 1 more smile.
Let's do it for Rivkah and Gaby.

-Daniel

Aftermath of Mumbai Massacres

B"H

Dear Friends and Family,

As any other person in the world, let alone as a Jew and a "Chabad Chassid", I was watching with abated breath as the tragic events unfolded in Mumbai this past week. Our entire yeshivah here prayed especially for the well being of those trapped in the "Chabad House," following every update...
After the terrible news of those killed and injured throughout India, news broke of the tragic end in the Chabad house: 9 dead; amongst them Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, young emissaries who dedicated their entire lives to helping Jews who came to Mumbai. (Their 2 yr. old son Moshe was miraculously saved by his nanny Sandra, who bravely left her barricaded room when hearing his cries, and ran to his crib to save him.)

What now?

In 1956, Palestinian terrorists infiltrated the small Israeli settlement "Kfar Chabad" near Tel Aviv, opening fire and killing a Rabbi and 4 students.
The people of the newly born settlement, made up primarily of recent Russian immigrants, was devastated. Broken, they sent a letter describing the events to the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York (who had guided the building of the settlement). When the telegram arrived in New York, the secretaries decided to hold the letter until after the Rebbe's farbrengen "Chassidic gathering," so as not to disturb his mood. Nevertheless, the Rebbe cried throughout the farbrengen, with the crowd confused as to what the reason may have been. But the secretaries realized that the Rebbe somehow already knew. After the farbrengen, they gently knocked on the Rebbe's door, and handed him the telegram. The Rebbe took it, and slumped into his chair. For 3 days, the Rebbe stayed in his room. Finally he emerged, giving his response to the telegram to his secretaries with just 3 words: "b'hemshech ha'binyan yenachameinu"-"through building will be your comfort."

Gathering in the town square in Kfar Chabad, the telegram from the Rebbe was read. The people were elated-now they knew what to do! After a meeting, the people decided to build a vocational school for disadvantaged youth. A year and 50,000 shekels later, the school was opened, with much success...

We have to build. The answer to this tragedy, the answer that Gavriel and Rivkah lived for, is an increase in kind deeds and Mitzvot; to build. To help others selflessly the way they did. Not to slouch around depressed thinking of how low humans can go, how low and dark this world is, but rather what we can do to light it up. and helping each other. Each person can choose his own Mitzvah in honor of the slain couple: www.chabad.org.

To build our Jewish lives further is a testament against these terrorists, and for this heroic couple, who left the comfort of their homes in Israel to help their fellow Jews strengthen their souls in India. Let's make them proud and happy. Let's build.

-Daniel