Email Archive

Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn
WEEKLYNEWSLETTER

Dear {{first_name}},

Chanukah often coincides with Miketz, the Torah portion that begins with Yosef emerging from years of darkness into sudden light. From prison to leadership, Yosef’s story is not only about personal success, but about how clarity and moral courage that comes from faith can illuminate an entire society during a time of uncertainty.

Chanukah itself carries a similar message. The miracle was not just military survival, but the decision to light the Menorah in the Temple when darkness seemed overwhelming and pure oil was not to be found. The Maccabees did not wait for the world to be safe or perfect; they acted with faith, trusting that light, once kindled, is much stronger than darkness and has the power to spread.

This message resonates deeply after the terrorist attack at the Bondi Beach Chanukah celebration. When ugliness, violence and hatred surfaces, it challenges us in profound ways. The Torah does not ignore such moments; instead, it teaches us how to respond.

Yosef teaches responsibility instead of despair, faith instead of hopelessness and action instead of depression. Chanukah teaches Jewish and personal pride —placing the menorah where it can most been seen, refusing to hide Jewish light even when the world becomes hostile towards Jews. Together, they remind us that the Jewish response to darkness is neither silence nor fear, but more light, more strength, more unity, and more love for the each other and the many good people around us.

In times like these, the call of both this week’s Torah portion and Chanukah is clear: Be a source of light! Through kindness, moral clarity, and care for one another, even a small flame can push back great darkness.
A Mitzvah is Light! Let's shine brighter light than ever and do more Mitzvahs, the world needs our light.

Sincerely,
Rabbi Mendel & Elke Zaltzman

Shabbos Times

Friday, December 19

Candle Lighting: 4:13pm 
Evening Service: 4:15pm

Saturday, December 20

Morning Service: 10:00am

Kiddush Lunch: 12:15pm
Mincha Service: 4:15pm

Shabbat ends: 5:17pm

Kiddush sponsored by

Yuriy and Polina Melnikov

in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their dear daughter

Eliana Meital

Mazel Tov! 

A Little Band of Hasmoneans
By The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson
The Chanukah Lights which are kindled in the darkness of night recall to our minds memories of the past: the war that the Hasmoneans waged against huge Syrian armies, their victory, the dedication of the Temple, the rekindling of the Menorah, the small quantity of oil that lasted for many days, and so on.
Let's picture ourselves members of the little band of Hasmoneans in those days. We are under the domination of a powerful Syrian king; many of our brethren have left us and accepted the idolatry and way of life of the enemy. But our leaders, the Hasmoneans, do not commence action by comparing numbers and weapons, and weighing our chances of victory. The Holy Temple has been invaded by a cruel enemy. The Torah and our faith are in grave danger. The enemy has trampled upon everything holy to us and is trying to force us to accept his way of life which is that of idol worship, injustice, and similar traits altogether foreign to us. There is but one thing for us to do-to adhere all the more closely to our religion and its precepts, and to fight against the enemy even if we have to die in this fight.
And wonder of wonder! The huge Syrian armies are beaten, the vast Syrian Empire is defeated, our victory is complete.
This chapter of our history has repeated itself frequently. We, as Jews, have always been outnumbered; many tyrants attempted to destroy us because of our faith. Sometimes they aimed their poisoned arrows at our bodies, sometimes at our souls, and, sad to say, many of our brethren have for one reason or another turned away from G‑d and His Torah and tried to make life easier by accepting the rule of the conqueror.
In such times of distress we must always be like that faithful band of Hasmoneans, and remember that there is always a drop of ‘pure olive oil’ hidden deep in the heart of every Jew, which, if kindled, bursts into a big flame. This drop of ‘pure olive oil’ is the ‘Perpetual Light’ that must and will pierce the darkness of our present night, until everyone of us will behold the fulfillment of the prophet's promise for our ultimate redemption and triumph. And as in the days of the Hasmoneans ‘the wicked will once again be conquered by the righteous, and the arrogant by those who follow G‑d's laws, and our people Israel will have a great salvation.’

-adapted from www.chabad.org