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Holy Lights
12/21/2022 10:33:14 AM
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The lights of Hanukkah are beautiful. Yet they are more than a festive adornment for the holiday. Our tradition considers the lights of Hanukkah to be holy. As such, they are not to be used for an ordinary purpose, such as a source of light for reading a book or doing a crossword puzzle.
One of my teachers, Rabbi Larry Hoffman, wrote of the Hanukkah lights, “their inherent purpose, according to the Talmud, is to shine the news of God’s miracle of light, recalling the days of the Maccabees…We light them so that they may fulfil their purpose…simply by looking at them, we acknowledge the possibility of miracles.”
This Hanukkah, we can kindle our lights for another sacred purpose.
We live in a time in which acts of racism and antisemitism have harmed many in our country. This year, there is a national movement to bring Black and Jewish Communities together to kindle lights during the eight days of Hanukkah and the seven days of Kwanzaa. The purpose of these gatherings is to stand together in unity against acts of hate.
Leaders of our local community have planned a gathering on December 26 in downtown Peekskill. We will meet at 6 PM at the gazebo on the corner of Division Street and Central Avenue. I encourage you to join me at this gathering.
There is great power in the image of lights glowing against the deep darkness of a cold winter night. There is even greater power in the act of good-hearted people standing together against racism and antisemitism in the face of those forces that seek to harm and divide us. There is no greater purpose for these holy lights than to inspire us to acts of unity and love and open our hearts to hope.
Sat, May 4 2024
26 Nisan 5784
Temple israel Happenings
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Saturday ,
MayMay 4 , 2024Meet Me at Jaech's Place: A Speakeasy at the Synagogue
Shabbat, May 4th 7:00pm to 10:00pm
Live Jazz | Open Bar | Hot & Cold Buffet | 50/50 Raffle | Baskets of Booze Raffle | Special Commemorative Gift Attire: 1920s Period Dress Preferred. Tiered ticket pricing. RSVP by April 30. -
Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024Israel Engagement committee meeting
Sunday, May 5th 9:15am to 10:15am
The Israel Engagement Committee will meet to continue a discussion of the committee's main objectives and begin planning programs/discussions around Israel engagement. -
Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024A First Hand Account of the War in Israel with Speaker
Sunday, May 5th 10:15am to 11:15am
Please join us for a conversation with Ido Yaaran, a young adult Israel emissary and IDF soldier. Ido was raised in Herzliya, Israel and came to the United States for a year of service to the Jewish community in 2019-2020 through the young emissary program of the Jewish Agency of Israel and the Jewish Federation of Fairfield County, Ct. Read more... -
Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024Yom HaShoah Memorial Candle Lighting (Virtual)
Sunday, May 5th 6:30pm to 7:00pm
We will gather on Zoom for a brief ritual as we light our Yom HaShoah memorial candles to honor all who perished at the hands of the Nazis.
Events
Today's Calendar
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: 7:00pm |
Friday Night
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Candle Lighting : 7:45pm |
Shabbat Day
: 9:30am |
: 10:30am |
: 7:00pm |
Upcoming Programs & Events
May 4 |
May 5 |
May 5 Women's Journal Group Sunday, May 5 10:00am |
May 5 |
May 5 |
This week's Torah portion is Parashat Acharei Mot
Shabbat, May 4 |
Candle Lighting
Shabbat, May 4, 7:39pm |
Yom HaShoah
Monday, May 6 |