Haneros Halalu

B”H

We have less classes this week, thanks to Chanukah, so I finally have time to do some writing. This is a current post, followed immediately by a High Holiday post. I apologize for not being consistent; I want to fill in the past few months as well, but I will definitely try to stay current from now on.

Happy Chanukah!

Chanukah is one of Chabad’s favorite holidays, so we’ve been busy this week. All of our studying was steered towards learning about the holiday; how to celebrate and sanctify it and what it really means. I’ve never talked so much about wicks and flames and olive oil in my whole life. The whole neighborhood is changed too: Every single store in Geula is selling oil, chanukiot, beeswax candles, and every kind of wick you could imagine. Secular folks roll in too, from Tel Aviv. It’s quite sweet to see chareidi hassidim standing in line with women with heels and bleached hair; everyone’s there for the same reason.

First night was Shabbos, so we marched to the Kotel for maariv. It’s a 45 minute walk, and we literally sang and danced the whole way. We took the direct route, through the Arab souk, where we got quite a few funny looks, and many a tourist whipped out their camera’s to photograph us. It was a geshmak davenen too, with more dancing and singing. There were no rabbis at the Yeshiva the whole Shabbos, so the shluchim ran the show, and it was just a fun, freilechin shabbos from start to finish.

Chanukah is also prime time for mivtzoim. Just about every Jew knows about Chanukah, and no one minds lighting a few candles and celebrating a miracle. We’re going out to the Ben Yehuda and Jerusalem’s various malls every night this week, handing out chanukiot, doing public lightings, and dancing in the streets. We set up some big speakers, plug in an ipod with some Avraham Fried, and grab whoever walks by. A huge circle appears in seconds; everyone knows it’s a holiday, and they want to celebrate.

I’m going to Tsfat this weekend. That should be post worthy.

A Freilichin Chanukah!

Yoel David