Dear [first_name],

Henya & I extend our warm wishes to you for a happy and bright Chanukah. We would also like to invite you to our communal Menorah lighting which will take place next Friday evening, December 30. The program will commence at 5.45pm with a Fire show for the children. For the adults we kick off at 6.00pm with Mincha, followed by Kabbalat Shabbat at 6.15pm. We will then proceed to the Braham Hall for our Grand Communal Menorah Lighting, Communal Shabbat Candle Lighting, and a delicious Kiddush of Latkes, Donuts and Lager & Scotch to wash it down. We will then return upstairs at 7.00pm to conclude the service.

Below are some Chanukah customs which I believe you will find quite valuable.

How are the candles lit?
On the first night we light the candle on the extreme right of the Chanukah Menorah. The next night we insert a new candle to the left of the first. We light the new candle first and then the old one. Similarly on each night of Chanukah we light the new candle first and then proceed from left to right.

The Lesson: Left symbolizes the forces of evil; right the forces of good. It doesn’t matter if we are on the left, as long as we are proceeding towards the Light!

When are the candles lit?
Unlike Shabbat candles which must be lit before sunset, the Chanukah candles should preferably be lit after sunset (except of course on Friday evening when they are lit before the Shabbos candles). They must remain alight for at least half an hour after nightfall. This means that if they were lit any time before nightfall they must remain alight until at least 9.06pm.

The Lesson: Chanukah reminds us of our responsibility to not only brighten up the day but also the night. It is important to constantly add brightness to our lives (no matter how bright they may already be!) We must however not forget our responsibility to brighten the dark lives of those around us.

Where should the candles be placed?
The candles should be placed either near a window facing the street or in the left hand side of a doorway opposite the Mezuzah. The street and the left hand side represent darkness and evil respectively, reminding us once again to light up the spiritual darkness of the world. We are also reminded, by the presence of the Mezuzah on the right and the Menorah on the left to endeavour to constantly surround ourselves with Mitzvot.

The noted Sefardi authority, the Ben Ish Chai gives a different and fascinating explanation: He explains that when walking through the doorway on Chanukah, while wearing tzitzit, one is in fact calling for Moshiach to come. The Midrash (Shochar Tov Proverbs 19) tells us that Messiah’s name is Tzemach: Tz of tzitzit; M of mezuzah, and Ch of Chanukah

What may be used as candles?
One may use either wax candles or oil. If possible it is best to use olive oil as it was with olive oil that the miracle of Chanukah occurred. A small quantity of oil burns much longer than a similar quantity of wax making it easier to ensure that the candles remain alight for the required period. This is especially important on Friday night when one must light the candles earlier, or when lighting early so that young children can see them.

The Lesson: Oil floats above water; it is a lubricant. A Jew must lubricate – influence – his environment yet at the same time float above – not be influenced by it himself. Of course one may and should utilize all the good advances in science and technology for the service of G-d. But as everyone knows, there is much in our environment which we would be better off without.

Is work permitted during Chanukah?
Jewish women have a custom not to do housework while the Chanukah candles are lit. Great salvation has come through our women during the time of Chanukah, the time of Purim and the time of Pesach. It has always been the women who have been at the forefront of our nation’s salvation. The fate of our nation today also rests on our women. It is they who are called the Akeret HaBayt – the pillar of the Jewish home. And it is the women who are promised a greater portion of the World to Come as it says in Talmud, “The promise of the Holy One, Blessed be He, to women concerning the World to Come is greater than His promise to men” – Brachot 17b

With best wishes for a Good Shabbos and Chanukah Sameach from the Rebbetzin and all of us at South Head,

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

President's Message

On Saturday night we light the first candle for Chanukah. The menorah should be placed on a window sill or door entrance so that it is visible to those outside. The Chanukiah (the special menorah with 8 branches plus a shamas) is meant to light up the world.

When I was growing up in New York, there were no public displays of Chanukah and menorahs; of course, there were and are many public displays of Christmas, most notably the giant tree in Rockefeller Plaza. The Lubavitcher Rebbe inaugurated a massive Chanukah-awareness campaign in 1973. In 1974 there was a menorah lighting ceremony at the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. In 1975 rock promoter Bill Graham (who was Jewish) sponsored the Chabad menorah in San Francisco. In 1977 Mayor Abraham Beame (also Jewish) lit a big menorah in New York. In 1979 President Jimmy Carter attended a ceremony to light the National Menorah in Lafayette Park in Washington DC. Starting with President Bill Clinton in 1993, there has been an annual Chanukah menorah lighting at the White House. Read More

Youth News

What a awesome week it was in Camp Shalom!!!!!!!!!! Campers had a blast going to Attractivity, Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym, Museum of fire, and bowling!!!!!

Get ready for chanukah, it’s just around the corner, and we’re going to be having the most amazing fire show yet!!!!!

Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos & a Happy Chanukah!
Elimelech & Shimi

* * * * *

Camp Shalom Kiddush Hashem
This week I had the honour and privilege of being a Head Counsellor on Camp Shalom along with the incredible South Head Bochurim – Shimi and Elimelech. On our adventure to Attractivity on Monday we came across a camp which happened to be run by a few lovely Muslim women. I began making some small talk with one of the ladies and she said “Are you a Vacation Care or a camp”? I proudly responded “Yes we are a Jewish Camp!” As the discussion went on she was so touched to hear that our group is Jewish, Synagogue run and all children from non-religious and religious backgrounds are allowed to come whether they are affiliated with the Synagogue or not. As the discussion finished she said she LOVED how our group prayed on camp mornings and had Jewish and general activities. The lovely woman ended our conversation by saying that she was so impressed by our camp, wished there were more of them and said that camps like ours are “so needed in this day and age!”

This made me feel so proud and showed our children and Madrichot how incredible our camp really is! May these positive situations continue to brighten up the world.

Shabbat Shalom & Chanukah Sameach,
Chavi Lazarus

For all information on upcoming events and activities please contact us on 9371 7300 ext 3 or 0434 811 770

After I left – even though the Rebbe told me to prepare for the worst – I did not feel depressed. To the contrary, I felt that a burden had been lifted from me. It was as if the Rebbe said to me, “Whatever happens, it will be okay.” As a result, I was able to help my mother choose the treatment option that would help her preserve some kind of quality of life, instead of tormenting her physically when there was no realistic chance of success. As it happened, she declined both surgery and radiation and just opted for palliative treatment, which let her make the best of whatever time she had left. She lived another two months and then lapsed into a coma. Read More

Q. Yosef has some real big problems! His brothers had sold him into slavery and now he was imprisoned by Potiphar with no real hope of ever being set free. He had no idea if he would ever see his beloved father or any other member of his family ever again. Yet, when he saw the sadness in the eyes of the chief butler and baker who were thrown into prison alongside him, he was able to look beyond his own problems and offer them strength and hope. How was he able to do this? Read More