Rabbi Yosef Greenberg will lead the Hanukkah Menorah Lighting today at 4pm at the Midtown Mall. Everyone is welcome to gather at the Giving Machine for the lighting.
In 1991, Rabbi Greenberg founded the Lubavitch Jewish Center of Alaska, which now serves over 6,000 Jews living in Alaska.
The Menorah represents Jewish faith and resilience. The candles are lit over the eight days of Hannukah, a joyful festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it was reclaimed by the Maccabees from the Seleucid Greeks in 2nd Century B.C. According to tradition, the Maccabees only had one day’s worth of oil, but it miraculously burned for eight days.
Throughout history, Jews have faced hatred, violence, and attempts at annihilation. Every time, the Jewish people have resisted and stood together against evil. Today, Jews and friends of Jews mourn the tragic deaths that resulted from a targeted antisemitic attack on Sunday at Bondi Beach in Syndey, Australia.
Yesterday, December 14, two or three gunmen open-fired on a group of Jews lighting the Menorah on Bondi Beach to kick off the Hannukah festival. At least 11 innocents were killed as well as one of the gunmen. 29 people were hospitalized with injuries.
According to a top Australian intelligence official, authorities had one of the gunmen on their radar but had not deemed him an immediate threat. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and The Australian National Imams Council condemned the violence as “evil beyond comprehension,” “cold-blooded murder,” and “crimes [that] have no place in our society.”
What is usually a jubilant start to one of the most well-known Jewish holidays has become for many a time of grief, shock, and prayers for peace, strength, and solace.
Anytime the Jewish community decides to have a public gathering they better have very tight security.
will you be bringing weapons?
Any articles coming out for the tens of thousands of Gazan women, children, and elderly murdered by Zionists?
Any articles on the tens of thousands of Catholics and Christians murders by Islamists.
All lives are equal – please report accordingly.
P.s. no Scofield bible for me….