The shock and pain from the news and images out of Sydney, was a really rough way to kick off Chanukah this year.
Yet light the Menorah we did. The Jewish world didn’t skip a beat — if even all the while the tears flowed. Physical light and proverbial light flooded the world despite the extreme setbacks.
As the week progressed, snippets of true heroism and outsized selfless acts from those who attended the Bondi celebration, emerged. Courage of the greatest magnitude and selflessness that could only be described as pure “soul” flooded the inbox.
Soul.
What else could motivate a person to disregard their own safety in order to help save someone else they don’t even know? What else could drive an unarmed couple to tackle armed gunmen on a mission to create carnage or a bleeding injured woman to throw herself over a child she didn’t know screaming for her mother— if not drawing from a deeper reservoir from within?
There couldn’t be a starker contrast and polarity between good and evil as displayed and experienced in Bondi.
Not lost for a second was the father and son collaboration to destroy. Father and son — no words, simply no words…
The Jewish nation is built on Dor L’dor — handing to our children the gift of our Heritage. The mission entrusted to us thousands of years ago and gifted to us at Mount Sinai. Painstakingly at times, parent to child — as stated in our holiest prayer the Shema. “ Veshinantam Levanecha Vedibarta Bom” — and you shall teach it to your children and constantly prioritize it.
Difficult as it is, the message is clear. The mission is even clearer. We must recognize that the Jewish nation was entrusted with the mission of “being a light unto the nations”. We descend from Abraham and Sarah, Yitzchak and Rivka, Yaakov and Rachel and Leah — we are not merely physical progeny we are “progenitors”. Proud and strong progenitors and that’s why we work so hard despite all the challenges and roadblocks to ensure Dor L’dor.
As we continue the ever increasing nightly ritual of kindling light — let’s make sure, for ourselves, for our families and for the Holy Souls that ascended heavenward this past week illuminating the heavens and illuminating a clear path for each of us —to do more with our identity, birthright, heritage and soul in the peaceful pathways of Torah and Mitzvah!
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom & Chanukah Sameach,
P.S. Gala 2026 — the main Chabad of Westport fundraiser — please participate in whichever way you are comfortable. We are so appreciate — Here