War Summary, Day 450-45: UN agencies pushing for Hamas to stay in power with no hostage deal, largest ambush operation since beginning of war eliminates over 100 terrorists fleeing Gaza hospital in one night, and reports that the Iranian-backed militia in Iraq stopped firing at Israel after Israel threatened consequences.
Rabbi Yitzchok and Meir Simcha Minkowicz of Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida hosted a remarkable Chanukah celebration at the picturesque Castle Golf in Fort Myers, followed by the Menorah being lit by Issac Ashurav and his family, survivors of the October 7th terror attacks in Ofakim, Israel.
The Rebbe offers guidance to incarcerated individuals, drawing parallels between their situation and the darkness of exile, emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust in Hashem and and encourages the prisoners to find hope in the increasing light of Chanukah.
Rabbi Dovber Prus, a longtime and esteemed resident of Kfar Chabad, passed away on the sixth night of Chanukah, 29 Kislev.
Watch Live at 3:40 PM ET: Mincha in 770 will be followed by the kindling of the sixth light of Chanukah, after which the large crowd will join in a rousing rendition of Haneiros Halalu.
Bonei Olam Chabad will be organizing a minyan to daven at the Ohel on Zos Chanukah, an auspicious time to request the bracha of zera chaya v’kayama. Names can be submitted today to be read at the Ohel during this special occasion.
Cheder Oholei Chinuch in Argentina, in collaboration with Tzivos Hashem, organized a beautiful Chanukah event for Tiferes Zekeinim members featuring a professional choir, a Chanukah play, mini shiurim by students who are grandchildren of Tiferes members, and a Menorah competition and expo where parents and Tiferes members attended to view and vote.
Despite public event bans in Moscow’s central square due to the war, Chief Rabbi and Shliach, Rabbi Berel Lazar secured last-minute approval to continue the 35-year tradition of holding a public Menorah lighting at the central square of Moscow. The event drew a large crowd and was broadcast to millions across Russia.
For the fifth consecutive year, Igud Talmidei Hak’vutza has continued the revolutionary “Yissachar and Zevulun” program geared for Israeli Bochurim learning in 770 who have immersed themselves with great vigor in studying and reviewing their learning. Hundreds of Yeshiva students successfully completed the structured learning tracks, earning scholarships totaling tens of thousands of dollars.
Former President James Earl (“Jimmy“) Carter died at the age of 100 on the fourth night of Chanukah, exactly 45 years to the day he inaugurated the National Menorah. He signed into law “Education Day USA” in honor of the Rebbe, but was also the architect of the devastating Camp David Accords, which forced Israel to relinquish the Sinai Peninsula in exchange for a worthless piece of paper.
At the Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen in 770, Crown Heights rov Rabbi Yosef Braun highlighted the vital importance of living with Torah and Chassidus, particularly Tanya and Igros Kodesh, and cautioning against new-age therapies and educational theories.
In the face of today’s identity crisis, where many of our youth grow up without understanding what Chassidus has accomplished, Suffield Yeshiva has launched a new initiative: the daily study of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s Sefer HaSichos.
On the first night of Chanukah, Oholei Torah held a “Latkes Ovent” evening for the entire school staff and their families acknowledging their dedicated commitment to the Chinuch of our community, with Divrei Torah, entertaining performances and a lavish fleishig dinner that was enjoyed by all.
The new Lamternshtick initiative for Anash families in Crown Heights has seen great success, with many stopping by their unofficial pop-up shop in the Raskin’s Fish alleyway. Families received menorah kits, candles, guides, and family-friendly routes, fulfilling the Rebbe’s call to be lamplighters, spreading the light of Chanukah to all.
Over thirty years ago, a young woman, distanced from Yiddishkeit, stumbled upon a televised Chanukah Live. Captivated by the Rebbe’s words about the power of a single candle to illuminate the entire world, her life took a transformative turn.
Ask the Rov: Must the lights of a menorah be in a straight line? Rabbi Chaim Hillel Raskin responds.
Despite unexpected gale-force winds, Sydney’s menorah lighting this year proceeded with soulful Chazanus by Shliach Menachem Feldman and other Chazzanim from The Great Synagogue, 13-year-old prodigy Zelig Nussbaum singing Mi Sheberach, and a dazzling performance by the acrobatic trio Dauntless.
Live: A grand menorah lighting is taking place at the historic Brandenburg Gate, with a record number of dignitaries attending this year in light of the rise in antisemitism, including Berlin’s Mayor, Kai Wegner, who has set aside his usual winter vacation to give his full attention to the Jewish community.
Fifty years ago to this day, the first public Menorah was born in Philadelphia and has since snowballed to some 15,000 giant menorahs across the world. At the time some Jewish organizations strongly opposed this initiative, yet today they have come to admit that the Rebbe was right.
Anash.org Feature: This week’s Iyun Podcast by Rabbi Binyomin Bitton, director of the Tzfunot Institute, discusses the Rebbe and the Rogatchover on the mitzvah of Ner Chanukah, and its ramifications in a case where one has doesn’t have enough oil for all the night’s candles.
War Summary, Day 448-449: Hamas fires rare long-range rocket at Yerushalayim followed by the Houthi’s, massive hospital operation captures 240 terrorists with zero IDF casualties, and terrorist – who was a former Shin Bet informant – kills elderly woman in Herzilya.
