Chanukah Customs Food For Thought!
03/12/2015 04:32:36 PM
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Dear [first_name] 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 8.53pm.
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 occured. 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 on behalf of the Rebbetzin and all of us at South Head,
Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM
P.S. Save the Date: South Head invites you to 'Latkes & Lager' on Friday Dec. 11, featuring a Musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Communal Menorah Lighting, Shabbat Candle Lighting Ceremony and a buffet of Local Lager, Latkes, Burgers, Chicken Nuggets, Donuts & more! Event commences at 6.10pm. (The Children's LED lights show will begin at 5.45pm).
Some of the 90 people at the final JLI session of Journey of the Soul, called, "Why Do I Have to Die?"
Friendship Circle, New Partnership with South Head
Message From The President  This Chanukah, while other kids are enjoying doughnuts and chocolate gelt, kids at South Head will be spending Sunday December 6th learning about other kids living with a disability.In partnership with Friendship Circle and Kids Giving Back, South Head Youth is launching the second annual Toy Drive for children with special needs. Last year we collected over 150 new toys that were distributed to children with special needs at Friendship Circle, Vaucluse Primary School and Wairoa Special School. This year we hope to collect as many or more and include children with special needs at Gardners Road Public School.
To learn how to donate new toys or to rsvp for the Wrapping Party visit www.sydneyfc.org/toydrive.
The final day of the Toy Drive will be a Wrapping Party at South Head. There will be plenty of Chanukah Nosh and discussions on understanding and accepting people with disability. "We want the kids not to be scared of people with disability and to realise that just like them, kids with special needs, enjoy playing and having fun.” For school-aged children with their family and teens, this will take place on Sunday, December 6th, 10.30am – 12.30pm, but RSVP is required: call Jan Josman on 0412301009.
This project is one of several new initiatives that we hope to see in our new partnership with Friendship Circle. In September the board of South Head Synagogue decided to enter a formal relationship with the NSW Friendship Circle that will bring both organizations together and benefit the community.
NSW Friendship Circle works with young people living with disability and their families providing them with important social and community connections as well as providing respite through its day camps and weekend activities.
The relationship brings together some of the informal connections and will enable Friendship Circle to engage the services of a Rabbi to meet the needs of the Jewish families children living with a disability. We hope to work together to boost the youth engagement and spirit of social inclusion at the Shul and to reach out to families with children with special needs.
Rabbi Sender Kavka will continue to lead the Friendship Circle and thanks to ongoing support from generous donors he has a fixed term contract with South Head Synagogue which is revenue neutral. This arrangement will enable us to be involved with and support the social inclusion and outreach to families with children with special needs.
We have already welcomed Friendship Circle volunteers for Shabbat Dinner and prayers with the Youth Minyan during volunteer week last May. We are looking forward to working closer together to increase the scope of integrated Jewish activities at South Head and throughout the eastern suburbs. During the next few months we plan to have a special Shabbos for kids with special needs at South Head.
Every Child Matters
Rabbi Moshe Stern
 RECOMMENDED LIBRARY READING
"Nine Spoons" (From Our Children's Library) A Chanukah Story, by Marci Stillerman, illustrated by Pesach Gerber. A few brave women in a Concentration Camp just before the end of the Second World War are determined to gather nine spoons to make a menorah for Chanukah. Years later one of the women who was part of this group tells the touching story to her grandchildren. This is a beautiful story of hope and bravery. Shabbat Shalom, COMMUNAL EVENTS
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666 Old South Head Rd Rose Bay, NSW 2029 (02) 9371 7300 |
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SHMINI
Rose Bay, NSW 2029
(02) 9371 7300