Our YIS Menorah. Dear Scarsdaleans,

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1 This is the message I sent to our young men and women studying in Israel, abroad and in college. I share it with you in the hope that it resonates with all of us. Dear Scarsdaleans, Whether you are at school on a college campus or elsewhere, at a Yeshiva/Seminary or program in Israel - I have a message I d like to share with you from home. Last month s incident in Pittsburgh, where 11 of our fellow Jews were murdered for the crime of being in Shul on Shabbat was disturbing, shocking and horrifying to all people of goodwill across America. And, yes, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Steelers observed a moment of silence and Ben Roethlisberger even wore Magen Dovids on his cleats. But, ultimately, this was not an attack on Americans - it was an attack on Jews, on our values, our holy Torah and our People. While, for Americans, this attack on Jews is something new and unexpected, in the annals of Jewish history, this is something we ve seen before and will, sadly, see again. So what should this say to us? Should we be running scared - hiding our identities - keeping our heads down, so as not to draw attention to ourselves? Well, in true Jewish fashion, let me answer a question with a question :-). What did the Maccabees do when they faced anti-semitism for their beliefs, their worship and their practice? They fought back, and I m not referring to their military fight; for their essential fight was a spiritual one. Instead of yielding to religious pressure to fit in and not stand apart, they strengthened their religious resolve to proudly stand together as Jews. The anti-semitic attacks levied against them didn t weaken their connection to the Torah and the Jewish community, it emboldened their connection to Am Yisrael and Torat Yisrael. And, though this historic injustice of anti-semitism has caused many Jews to question their faith in God, the story of Chanukah teaches us that faith in Hashem is forged in situations like these, not forsaken. As the future leaders of our next generation we know that this lesson is self evident to you in all that you do. May you light Menorot in your windows and in your hearts with extra pride and zeal this year, as you convey this message of light, hope and faith wherever you are - to all that you encounter. I, and your Young Israel of Scarsdale family, remain supremely proud of you...always remember that we re constantly thinking about you here in Scarsdale. Your Rabbi, Jonathan Morgenstern Our YIS Menorah

2 Chanukah Laws and Customs 5779 More than 2,000 years ago, Antiochus Epiphanus of Syria overran the Jewish homeland, cruelly persecuted its inhabitants, forcefully imposed assimilation, and turned the Jewish Temple into a Temple of Zeus Olympius. Needless to say, the Jews rebelled under the leadership of Matityahu and his five sons, the Hasmonean family of priests. After Matityahu s death, his son, Yehudah Maccabee (Judas Maccabeus) carried on the war which lasted for three years. After the victory in 165 BCE, Yehudah and his army purified the Temple and rededicated it as a house of worship to G-d. Our tradition tells us that upon cleaning the Temple they discovered only one jar of oil for the Menorah enough to burn for only one day. It would be a week before purified oil could be obtained. The priests then decided to divide the oil into eighths and burn a little everyday. Surprisingly, the little oil that was to burn for awhile, burned the entire day and night. And so it happened for all eight days. That day was the 25th of Kislev. (Another tradition states that they used the entire flask of oil the first day and it lasted for eight days.) This phenomenal miracle convinced the Jews even more that G-d has truly played a great part in their conquest. From that day on, the Sages established Chanukah as a constant reminder of the need to challenge persecution, and to strive for freedom. Lighting the candle on the 8 days of Chanukah publicizes this concept as the flames of the Menorah serve as a reminder of not only the miracle of the conquest and oil, but that Israel should be a light among nations. NAMES OF THE FESTIVAL: Chanukah means dedication, commemorating the dedication of the Temple. Festival of Lights Chag Ha Urim, because of the Menorah s light and message. Chanukah lights are meant primarily to publicize the magnificent miracle of the Hasmonean victory over the oppressors of the Jews and the dedication of the Temple which witnessed a miraculous miracle of one flask of oil burning for eight days. For this reason, we focus our attention on a menorah and place it in a location where it can be noticed by others to publicize our salvation and good fortune. Traditionally, the menorah is placed at the entrance to one s home opposite the mezuzah or near a window. THE LIGHTS: To accentuate the miracle of the oil we light in the manner the ritual was traditionally performed by lighting a wick with fuel. Gaslights, wooden torches or electrical lights are therefore not valid. Fuel: While all fuels may be used for the Chanukah lights the most preferable is olive oil, since the miracle of Chanukah occurred with olive oil. If one doesn t have olive oil, one should use any oil that burns well. Oil is preferable to candles. Amount of fuel: When indoors, the lights must burn for half an hour. However, it is a hidur mitzvah - beautification of the mitzvah - to have the lights burn, as long as people are still walking the streets. Note: When using the standard, colored, wax candles on the latter nights of Chanukah, because of the excess heat generated by all of the candles, there is not enough fuel for the lights to remain lit for 1/2 an hour on these latter nights, other candles or fuels should be used. THE MENORAH: The Chanukah menorah is symbolic of the Temple Menorah. It should therefore resemble the Temple menorah and not have any branches higher than another nor should it be circular. Actually the Menorah used on Chanukah is called a Chanukiyah The shamash which is used to light the other lights - should not be on the same level as the other lights. It should be placed either higher or lower than the others. Or at the very least, separate and apart from the rest of the candles. TIME OF LIGHTING CHANUKAH LIGHTS: There are various opinions regarding the proper time for lighting Chanukah lights. According to the Shulkhan Arukh, the proper time for lighting is at nightfall, (when stars are visible.) The Sephardic custom in Israel is to pray Ma ariv immediately after sunset and to then kindle the Chanukah lights. If one does light before nightfall, one should put in enough fuel for the lights to burn until half an hour after nightfall. LIGHTING CHANUKAH LIGHTS ON EREV SHABBAT: On Erev Shabbat, Chanukah lights should be making sure that there is enough oil to allow the lights to burn until half an hour after nightfall. kindled just before Shabbat candles LIGHTING AFTER SHABBAT: Some people have the custom to pray Ma ariv just before the Shabbat is over, and light the Chanukah lights immediately after the Shabbat is concluded. In the synagogue we light the Chanukah lights before Havdalah to demonstrate our eagerness to perform the mitzvah. Generally, at home the Chanukah lights follow Havdalah. LATEST TIME TO LIGHT: The Talmud says that the latest time to light is when there are no more people walking outside. In those days this was about half an hour after nightfall. Nowadays, this may be later, since people are out and about at later hours. If a person did not have a chance to light at the appropriate time one may really light until dawn, as long as someone else in your household is up to witness the lighting along with you. LIGHTING THE MENORAH: The accepted custom is to place the candles in the Menorah in the same direction that Hebrew is read from right to left. And light them from left to right the same direction that English is read! One begins lighting the additional light first, and then move down the line to the others. Before lighting the Chanukah lights one is to recite two brachot. 1) L hadlik ner shel Chanukah. 2) She asah nissim la avoteinu bayamim ha haim ba zman ha zeh.

3 Chanukah Laws and Customs 5779 Only on the first night is the blessing of She he cheyanu also recited. The prayer "Haneirott Hala lu" is said immediately after lighting the lights. If for some reason She hecheyanu was not said on the first night, it should be said when lighting lights on the next night, or any of the following nights. A person who will not kindle Chanukah lights at night, and doesn t have anyone lighting for him at home, should say the brocha "She asah nissim" when observing Chanukah lights kindled by others. The Chanukah lights may not be used for any personal benefit. This includes using their light to light up an area for reading or recreation. One may not use a Chanukah light to kindle another. If a light went out, the shamash should be used to rekindle it. LIGHTING CHANUKAH LIGHTS WHEN AWAY FROM HOME: If someone is traveling he is exempt from having to return home and kindle Chanukah lights as long as someone at home will be lighting the Chanukah lights. A guest is included in the lighting of the host if he participated in the purchase of the oil and wicks. This can be done by giving the host a token amount of money before candle lighting. If one is going to be at a party when the menorah should be lit, one should either light at home before leaving, or have someone light for them at home, Or light at home after the party has concluded. One may also light at the Chanukah gathering with one s family, while children may certainly do this, this is not the preferred practice for adults. SOME TRADITIONAL CHANUKAH FOODS: There is a custom to have Chanukah parties celebrating the miracle of the Menorah and the victory of the Hasmoneans. To accentuate the miracle of the oil it has been customary to eat foods fried or baked in oil, preferably olive oil. Many Ashkenazi families make potato pancakes, known as latkes in Yiddush. Many Sephardim as well as Israelis have the custom to eat all kinds of doughnuts (bimuelos or sufganiyot) which are deepfried in oil. During the middle ages it was the custom to serve cheese dishes during the festival. This was to remember that Yehudit served cheese and other dairy foods to the Assyrian general Holofernes before killing him. According to Midrash Pesikta Rabbati, the festival of Chanukah commemorates more than one great dedication in Jewish History. There are, in fact, seven Chanukot. THE DREIDEL: HISTORY & MYTH: According to at least one source, the custom of playing Dreidel began started at the time of the Maccabees in an effort to circumvent the Greek decree against studying the Torah. Children with their teacher would have a Dreidel handy to start playing in case the Greeks came upon them studying the Torah. They would claim they were not studying instead they were just playing Dreidel. The story connecting Dreidel to the ruse of the Maccabees was first published in the book Minhagei Yeshurun, which was first published in 1890 (a.k.a. as Otzar Kol Minhagei Yeshurin (available online Hebrewbooks.org). In truth, Dreidel is not Jewish in origin. Rather, driedel is really the rather old game of teetotum. Teetotum, which uses a top with four sides and four letters is one and the same with Dreidel. The letters that appear on the Dreidel are really just the Hebrew letters that appear on a German or Yiddish teetotum, G, H, N, S. G= ganz (all), H halb (half), N nischt (nothing) and S schict (put). Teetotum dates back to at least the 16th century, long before we have any Jewish allusions to Dreidel (it was originally totum or top, but became TEEtotum due to the use of T for take all, on the top). The well-known depiction of children's games done by Brueghel in 16th century includes Teetotum. The earliest Jewish mention of Dreidel or the significance of it dates to the late 18th century. Various thinkers however have offered mystical explanations to the custom. The B ne Yissachar, Rabbi Tzvi Elimelch says that the reason the Dreidel is spun from the top and the grogger on Purim is turned from the bottom has to do with how each holiday's miracles were affected. On Chanukah the miracle came from above, directly from G-d. However, on Purim, the miracles were directly brought about by the actions of Esther, Mordechai and the Jewish people. The Dreidel is therefore spun from the top showing the miracle came from above, and the grogger from the bottom showing the miracle came from below. Rabbi Jacob Rubenstein z l

4 OUTSTANDING SPEAKER PROGRAM YIS COMMUNITY SHABBAT, W/CHIEF RABBI OF POLAND, RABBI MICHAEL SCHUDRICH Shabbat Chankukah, December 8-9, 2018 TEEN LEADERSHIP SHABBAT W/ RABBI DAVID MAHLER January 4-5, 2019 LIVING INSPIRED SHABBAT January 11-12, 2019 GESHER SHABBAT BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN JUDAISM IN ISRAEL & NORTH AMERICA W/ PROFESSOR ADAM FERZIGER & MUSICAL GUEST, CHAZZAN SHIM CRAIMER February 1-2, 2019 SHABBAT OF TANUCH APPRECIATION AND SEPHARDIC HERITAGE W/DR. TAMMY JACOBOWITZ & DR. RONNIE PERELIS February 22-23, 2019 SHABBAT ZACHOR STANDING UP FOR ISRAEL W/ SGT. BENJAMIN ANTHONY March 15-16, 2019 SHABBAT HA YIS W/ RABBI SHALOM ROSNER IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RELIGIOUS ZIONISTS OF AMERICA May 3-4, 2019 ANNUAL UJA FEDERATION YIS Spring 2019 YOM HAZIKARON & YOM HAAZMAUT May 8-9, 2019 SHAVUOT 5779/2019: TWILIGHT RETURNS ESTHER TRENCHER Z L MEMORIAL SHAVUOT SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM June 8-10, 2019

5 Chanukah 5779

6 Chanukah 5779

7 Chanukah Youth Events

8 Chanukah Youth Events