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Chanukah.
Chanukah is the holiday of fire, light and the Jewish spirit. The main commandment of the holiday is to light the candles,as Chanukah teaches us to light the world around us adding each day an extra candle, to light everything material around us, to drive away the darkness, making every thing holy. We are to light candles where everybody can see them. Nobody drives away the darkness with a stick, but a small ray of light can do it. The Menorah burned for eight days till the new portion of oil was produced and brought to the Temple. In order to commemorate the events our Sages demanded to celebrate Chanukah in each generation. For eight days beginning with the 25-th of Kislev. We are to thank G-d for His miracle and to kindle the Menorah candles. This year we celebrate Chanukah from November,30 to Dectmber,7. Riga`s Jewish Community, Habad-Lubavich Organization, The Jewish Religious Community.of Riga, The Jewish Agency "Sohnut" in The Baltic States, The Ambassy of Israel in The Baltic States, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, The Jewish Secondary School named after Sh. Dubnov, The Jewish Youth Center, The Jewish Community Center "Alef" invited Riga`s Jewry to watch the lightening of the candles of the Chanukah Menorah on Sunday, December, 1-st at 3 p.m. at the Park named after Kronvald near The Hall of Congresses. Though it was a cold and windy day quite a lot of people came. The teacher of the Psychology of the school Habad-Lubavich Yevgeny Rozanov addressed the audience. Then Rabby Mordechai Glazman took floor. The Rabby told us that the candles of Chanukah symbolized the light of the Tora and the Commandements. We kindle the candles at night and say that one is not to be confused by the darkness outside. Even one small ray of light makes the darkness disappear. There were many tyrants in the course of history,whose most ardent desire was to destroy us because of our faith. Sometimes they tried to destroy our bodies, another time their aim was our soul. We are to remember that deep in every Jewish heart there is a 'drop of clean oil' which if kindled makes an enormous flame. The children began to pray and everybody repeated the words of prayer after them. The people thought about Israel where people were killed as the result of many acts of terror, about themselves, their children and grandchildren, the future of Jewry here and there. The chief of The Jewish Agency "Sohnut" in The Baltic States Mr. Slomo Kim told an interesting parable. Once a poor Jew found two gold coins. The event took place during Chanukah. He brought the money home and gave it to his wife. She was very happy and said that the G-d was with them and then they would be able to live with the money happily for the whole year. She asked the husband to go to buy something to eat. The husband left and returned with a great amount of food and flowers. One coin was spent on food but another on flowers. The wife got very angry. "Why did you spend both coins at once? We could live on the second one for half the year." The husband answered that he had brought the food to live but the flowers to have to live for. Mr.Kim concluded that he wished everybody always had something to live for. The floor took Mr. Arkady Sukharenko- the chief of the Jewish Community. Mr. Sukharenko said that he was very glad to see so many people gathered in spite of the cold weather. I thank you all and the G-d. Today is Chanukah and we gathered here to light the Chanukah candles. Let the light of these candles makes our way brighter and let the darkness disperse. Let all of us merit now be real light for all peoples of the world, all and every single Jew. Hag Sameah. Rabby Glazman and Mr. Sukharenko lit the candles. It seemed that it became brighter around us. It is the eternal flame the light of which can and must disperse the darkness of the night njw and ever. The righteous wins over the profane and he who follows the G-d's Commandments – over the arrogant. It was very cold indeed but nevertheless we were very happy and went to continue celebration to the Community House Skolas str. 6. A grandiose program was in store for us: a circus performance, a Chanukah travel with games, surprises and prizes, live music and dances as well as beautifully laid tables. The next week was the time for celebration at school. On Monday the children baked the traditional Jewish treating – doughnuts. On Tuesday there was the most interesting event of the week – the Competition of the Songs dedicated to Chanukah. The children were well prepared and the contest was very interesting. On Wednesday there was organized the competition Brain- Ring for the bigger children, the little ones celebrated in the classes. On Thursday there was organized a grand celebration at the school Hall for younger children and their parents. The secondary school celebrated in groups. On Friday celebrated traditional Shabbath and summarized the results of the competitions. Everybody was very sorry to say good by to the most bright of the Jewish holidays. back |
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