Carefree Truth
Issue #612, December 22, 2017
Issue #612, December 22, 2017
Chanukah - Lighting of the Menorah at Sundown
2017 (5778) marks the first year that the Town of Carefree celebrated Chanukah, beginning on Tuesday, December 12th, lasting through Wednesday, December 20th. Each night of Chanukah, a 6 ft. tall Chanukah Menorah was lit at 5:30 PM in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion. The Lighting was led by a different community group or family each night, followed by special Chanukah gifts given to the first 25 children to arrive, a different gift each night. All were invited to participate.
On Sunday, December 17th, the sixth night of Chanukah, Rabbi Mari Chernow, Rabbi Bonnie Koppell and Cantor Ross Wolman represented Temple Chai, which donated the Menorah. Rabbi Koppell led the prayers. The Temple Chai Adult Choir performed Chanukah songs, led by Choir Director Dan Kurek. Carefree Bistro donated Potato Latkas with applesauce, hummus and sour cream dips to accompany the festivities. Many thanks also to Karen Acker from Temple Chai, who organized this event with the Town of Carefree, and is a member of the Choir.
Rabbi Koppell gave a stirring speech prior to the songs. Unfortunately, Herbert was taking still photos when she began, so did not get back to his tripod in time to record the beginning of her speech, and didn't want to start it when the speech was part way through, but Rabbi Koppell was kind enough to email her speech to me to share with you. Thank you, Rabbi.
As a veteran of 38 years as a Soldier in the US Army, I especially appreciate that Chanukkah is the only Jewish holiday that celebrates a military victory. Chanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the forces of Antiochus, circa 165 BCE. Jews had been prohibited from practicing their religious traditions. Following a 3 year battle, the Jews were victorious and the holiday commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem. The word Chanukkah means "rededication." Legend has it that there was only enough oil to light the menorah, the candelabrum, for one night, yet they lit the menorah and the oil miraculously lasted for 8 days.
Some values inherent in the holiday:
1. Although the holiday celebrates a military victory, the rabbis shifted the emphasis to the spiritual element, as reflected in their choice of a prophetic text from the book of Zechariah, 'Not by might and not by power but by my spirit,' says God.”
2. Two schools of rabbis debated- Should we start with 8 lights and light one less each night, or should we start with one and keep adding until the last night? They determined that we should always be about increasing the light.
3. On the first night, there was enough oil for one night and they lit the menorah, so there was no miracle. If we are celebrating a miracle, shouldn’t we observe only 7 nights, since there was no miracle on the 1st night. Aha- but the miracle was that, knowing there was not enough oil, they had the faith to light the menorah any way. This is an encouraging metaphor for us in our lives- sometimes we don’t know how we will move forward, where the resources will come from, yet we summon the strength and courage to do what needs to be done.
4. As American Jews, we appreciate the blessing of freedom of religious expression that we enjoy in this great land. The Maccabees fought for the right to practice their faith. As we light the candles, we give thanks for the freedom of religion that we enjoy today.
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Temple Chai
4645 E. Marilyn Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85032
(602) 971-1234
"What could you be grateful for now if you were grateful for something?"- from the book Thank You by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
Below is the link to Herbert's video of Chanukah in Carefree with Temple Chai.
https://vimeo.com/247749089
Schedule of Lighting Honors: 12/12-12/19
1st night, Acker/Kassel Family and Temple Chai blessing the Menorah
2nd night, Sarah Grafstein
3rd night, Jack and Judy Bernstein
4th night, The Bauman Family
5th night, The Ballai Family
6th night, Temple Chai Rabbi and the Adult Choir with Potato Latkas
7th night, The Kurland Family
8th night, Vicki Mardell and Mort Berkowitz, Congregation Kehillah
To show an example of the family Lighting Honors festivities, here are Herbert's still shots and his video from the Ballai Family Lighting. (Alison owns Bosco's Biscuits, located in the Bashas center. Our dogs love her biscuits!)
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/121717-carefrees-chanukah-celebration.html
https://vimeo.com/247660810
This was a delightful event that we sincerely hope will become a Carefree tradition.
Lyn and Herbert Hitchon
2017 (5778) marks the first year that the Town of Carefree celebrated Chanukah, beginning on Tuesday, December 12th, lasting through Wednesday, December 20th. Each night of Chanukah, a 6 ft. tall Chanukah Menorah was lit at 5:30 PM in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion. The Lighting was led by a different community group or family each night, followed by special Chanukah gifts given to the first 25 children to arrive, a different gift each night. All were invited to participate.
On Sunday, December 17th, the sixth night of Chanukah, Rabbi Mari Chernow, Rabbi Bonnie Koppell and Cantor Ross Wolman represented Temple Chai, which donated the Menorah. Rabbi Koppell led the prayers. The Temple Chai Adult Choir performed Chanukah songs, led by Choir Director Dan Kurek. Carefree Bistro donated Potato Latkas with applesauce, hummus and sour cream dips to accompany the festivities. Many thanks also to Karen Acker from Temple Chai, who organized this event with the Town of Carefree, and is a member of the Choir.
Rabbi Koppell gave a stirring speech prior to the songs. Unfortunately, Herbert was taking still photos when she began, so did not get back to his tripod in time to record the beginning of her speech, and didn't want to start it when the speech was part way through, but Rabbi Koppell was kind enough to email her speech to me to share with you. Thank you, Rabbi.
As a veteran of 38 years as a Soldier in the US Army, I especially appreciate that Chanukkah is the only Jewish holiday that celebrates a military victory. Chanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the forces of Antiochus, circa 165 BCE. Jews had been prohibited from practicing their religious traditions. Following a 3 year battle, the Jews were victorious and the holiday commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem. The word Chanukkah means "rededication." Legend has it that there was only enough oil to light the menorah, the candelabrum, for one night, yet they lit the menorah and the oil miraculously lasted for 8 days.
Some values inherent in the holiday:
1. Although the holiday celebrates a military victory, the rabbis shifted the emphasis to the spiritual element, as reflected in their choice of a prophetic text from the book of Zechariah, 'Not by might and not by power but by my spirit,' says God.”
2. Two schools of rabbis debated- Should we start with 8 lights and light one less each night, or should we start with one and keep adding until the last night? They determined that we should always be about increasing the light.
3. On the first night, there was enough oil for one night and they lit the menorah, so there was no miracle. If we are celebrating a miracle, shouldn’t we observe only 7 nights, since there was no miracle on the 1st night. Aha- but the miracle was that, knowing there was not enough oil, they had the faith to light the menorah any way. This is an encouraging metaphor for us in our lives- sometimes we don’t know how we will move forward, where the resources will come from, yet we summon the strength and courage to do what needs to be done.
4. As American Jews, we appreciate the blessing of freedom of religious expression that we enjoy in this great land. The Maccabees fought for the right to practice their faith. As we light the candles, we give thanks for the freedom of religion that we enjoy today.
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Temple Chai
4645 E. Marilyn Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85032
(602) 971-1234
"What could you be grateful for now if you were grateful for something?"- from the book Thank You by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
Below is the link to Herbert's video of Chanukah in Carefree with Temple Chai.
https://vimeo.com/247749089
Schedule of Lighting Honors: 12/12-12/19
1st night, Acker/Kassel Family and Temple Chai blessing the Menorah
2nd night, Sarah Grafstein
3rd night, Jack and Judy Bernstein
4th night, The Bauman Family
5th night, The Ballai Family
6th night, Temple Chai Rabbi and the Adult Choir with Potato Latkas
7th night, The Kurland Family
8th night, Vicki Mardell and Mort Berkowitz, Congregation Kehillah
To show an example of the family Lighting Honors festivities, here are Herbert's still shots and his video from the Ballai Family Lighting. (Alison owns Bosco's Biscuits, located in the Bashas center. Our dogs love her biscuits!)
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/121717-carefrees-chanukah-celebration.html
https://vimeo.com/247660810
This was a delightful event that we sincerely hope will become a Carefree tradition.
Lyn and Herbert Hitchon
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Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.