INSIDE, WE’RE ALL FILLED with vibrant seeds of potential greatness. See how to make it YOUR season to open up and break out.

E X P E R I E N C E

CHANUKAH

25 KISLEV - 3 TEVET, 5777 | DEC. 24, 2016 - JAN. 1, 2017

W I T H C H A B A D L U B A V I T C H O F Y O U R T O W N

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Contents:The Miracle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3The Chanukah Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Playing Dreidel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5The Menorah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Chanukah Tidbits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Traditional Recipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Chanukah Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

eThe publication contains sacred writings. Please don’t desecrate it. However, it is not considered shaimos.Design by Spotlight. © 2016 by The Shluchim Office.

Save the dateCHANUKAH WONDERLAND

Sunday January 1, 2017 • 5pmLive Music, Balloons, Dreidels, Doughnuts,

Hot Latkes, Juggling ShowiFor more information visit

www.chabadofyourtown.com 123-456-7890 • info@chabad.com

Dear Friend,

Looking at the events today, you start to wonder. The story of a little candle pushing away the monster of frightening darkness, of human sensibility overcoming terror and brute force, of life and growth overcoming destruction the battle is very much alive within each of us, and in the world outside of us.

It reoccurs at every winter solstice, at every dawn of each day, with every photon of sunlight that breaks through the earth’s atmosphere bringing it warmth and life-nurturing energy. With every breath of life, every cry of a newborn child, every blade of grass that breaks out from under the soil, every decision to do good in the face of evil, to be kind where there is cruelty, to build where others destroy, to move humanity forward when others pull us toward chaos. And that is Chanukah.

Chanukah is an eight-day spiritual journey. Many people know the story of Chanukah but only as a historical pretext to give gifts and eat latkes. We can call that the body of Chanukah. The soul of Chanukah is its meditation, joy, warmth and light. Not only in our homes with our loved ones, but with the entire world. In this tradition, Chabad presents this historic Menorah Lighting. Our hope is that by igniting our souls, everybody will follow and light the world, one candle at a time.

We look forward to having you join us for the Public Menorah Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, December 6th at 5:00 pm and making this Chanukah very special.Sincerely,

Rabbi Chabad LubavitcherDirector, Chabad of Yourtown

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The Miracle

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A message based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

T he challenge faced by the Jewish people during the time of the 2nd Temple was unlike any that had

confronted them before . They were not suf-fering from oppressive rule, rather from the infiltration of the principles and ideals asso-ciated with Greek civilization, a noxious blend of hedonism and philosophy . Jewish learning and observance was ceding and losing ground to widespread assimilation .

The historic cruse of pure oil represents the core essence of the Jewish soul, for each Jew possesses an innate love for G-d that is con-stant and unswerving . Just like the seal on this last flask of oil, our connection is unchanging, no matter where or how a Jew might find them-selves . Only by evoking this innate love for G-d were we able to banish the pagan influences from G-d’s home and rekindle the torch of Israel as a light unto the nations .

But this oil was sufficient for only a single day . When a person’s deepest self is challenged, the essential oil of his soul is

stimulated, and no force on earth can still its flame . By nature, man’s highest powers flare brightly and fleetingly, soon receding to the superconscious place from which they have come . Then the moment passes, the intensity levels off into the routine, and one is left with his ordinary, mortal self .

The miracle of Chanukah was that they lit the menorah with the pure oil, and it stayed lit for eight days . The miracle was that the flame of selfless sacrifice blazed beyond a single urgent moment . The small cruse of oil burned beyond its one-day lifespan for an additional week! This was not just a flash of light in a sea of darkness, but a miraculous flame destined to shed purity and light for all generations, under all conditions .

Thus the Talmud relates that it was only on the following year that these eight days were established as the festival of Chanukah . Once a year had passed, it was easy to see that the victory of Chanukah could be installed as a permanent fixture in our lives .

MACCABEE S

fter Alexander the Great con-quered Jerusalem in 3448 (313 BCE), the Jews lived peacefully

under Greek rule . Soon, Antiochus III rose to power . At first, he too treated the Jews well . But when he was defeated by the Romans and forced to pay heavy taxes, he passed the burden along to his subjects . A cycle of oppression began . Antiochus died and his son, Seleuces IV, tried to liqui-date the Temple's treasury to pay the Romans . Seleuces was soon killed and his rash and tyrannical brother Antiochus Epiphanes assumed the throne .

By then a Jewish Hellenist movement had gained steam . Many Jews embraced the pop-ular secular lifestyle of idolatry and self-wor-ship, adding a threat from within .

Antiochus seized on this climate to unify his kingdom under a common Greek culture . He banned key Jewish observances such as circumcision and Shabbat . He removed Yochanan the High Priest and replaced him with Jason, a Hellenized Jew . He mockingly sacrificed pigs on the Temple's altar .

Many Jews openly defied Antiochus and died as martyrs . But, when he erected stat-ues of Zeus and demanded that all subjects worship them, the Jewish people banded

together to revolt . In 3621 (140 BCE) the Jews fought a

war for their

MACCABEE SThe Chanukah Story

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Miracle of the

religious freedoms . Led by Matityahu and his five sons, a priestly family of the Hasmonean dynasty, the small army called itself the Maccabees, an acronym for “Mi Kamocha Ba’eilim Hashem—Who is like You among the powerful, O L-rd?”

Logically, the Maccabees were no match for the most powerful army in the world . But they miraculously won some early battles . The Greeks came back with bigger armies and (to really make a point) armored ele-phants . The battles became fiercer and the victories more miraculous as the Jews kept on winning . In a particularly valiant turn, a woman named Yehudit gained entry to a Syrian-Greek basecamp, seduced its gen-eral and plied him with wine and cheese before killing him with his own sword .

The Maccabees eventually chased the Greeks out of Jerusalem and declared independence . But when they entered the recaptured Holy Temple, they found a dis-graceful mess of idols, forbidden foods and broken pottery .

They tidied up and rededicated the Temple, only to encounter a new challenge: The Temple's six-foot Menorah had to be lit with pure, untampered olive oil . All the oil in the Temple had been deliberately defiled by the Greeks; it would take 7 days (round-trip) to get new oil from the orchards of Tekoah . The Maccabees did not want to wait!

The miracles continued: They found a bottle of pure oil hidden beneath the floor, still sealed with the insignia of the High Priest . And, though it was a flask with just enough oil for one night, it miraculously lasted for eight days .

Each year on Chanukah, we celebrate these miracles of light over might with Jewish pride and joy!

Playing DreidelDefying the king's ban, brave Jewish chil-dren continued to study Torah in secret caves. Whenever a Greek officer drew near, they'd hide their schoolbooks and pretend to play tops. We play dreidel (from the Yiddish word drei, which means “turn”) as a reminder of these courageous children.Each of the four sides of our dreidels bears a Hebrew letter: Nun, Gimmel, Hay or Shin, for the Hebrew words Ness Gadol Haya Sham, which means “a great miracle happened there”. In Israel, the dreidels say Nun, Gimmel, Hay, Pay for “Ness Gadol Haya Poh—a great miracle happened here.”

The Rules You'll need a dreidel and some coins. You can also use candy or cereal pieces. All players begin with an equal amount and contribute equally to establish a “pot”. Now take turns spinning the dreidel.

If it lands on:

How-to Guide

Get nothingNUN

Take the whole potGIMMEL

Take half the potHAY

SHINPay two into the pot

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MENORAH

he menorah, Hebrew for “lamp”, is one of the oldest symbols of Judaism . For thousands of years,

images of menorahs have been prevalent in Jewish art, architecture, and culture . Over time, the menorah has become an icon for Jewish culture and faith .

But the Torah tells of a seven-branched menorah lit every day in the Mishkan, the por-table temple used by our ancestors en route to the Holy Land . Later a seven-branched menorah was lit in the Beit Hamikdash,

Jerusalem’s Holy TempleIf the menorah of the Temple bore only

seven branches, why do most popular depic-tions have eight?

The simple answer is that the popular menorah is not a depiction of the Temple menorah, but of the Chanukah menorah which commemorates the miracle of the Temple’s menorah burning for eight days .

Spiritually, there is an additional reason to celebrate eight lights over seven .

Kabbalah teaches that the number seven

Laws and Customs

Seven Branches or Eight? A Look at the Menorah’s History & Deeper Meaning

THE LAMPHOLDERS of your menorah should be in an even line and of even height, except the shamash (service candle), which should be at a distinctly different height from the rest.

THE OPTIMAL PLACE for a menorah is in a doorway, oppo-site the mezuzah. You can also use a window that is visible from the street.

IF YOU ARE SINGLE and living on your own, you’ll need your own menorah. A married couple

The menorah brings light into our homes and radiates onto the street. By spreading goodness and kindness, we too can illuminate and transform the outside world and weaken the spiritual darkness.

SEE PAGE 11 FOR DATES AND BLESSINGS

How-to Light

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or family is one unit and the husband can light for everyone. Kids may light their own meno-rahs too.

ON THE FIRST NIGHT, light the candle furthest to the right. Each day, add another to the left of the original. Always light the newly added candle first.

MENORAHt h e

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THE RIGHT TIME TO LIGHT is at nightfall (about 20 minutes after sunset). Your menorah should remain lit for at least a 1/2 hour past nightfall. If you light earlier, make sure it is able to stay lit for 1/2 hour past nightfall.

GOT HOME LATE? As long as someone is around to see it, you can still light the menorah with a blessing. If not, light the menorah without a blessing.

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, light your menorah and then your Shabbat candles 18 min-utes before sunset. Do not light after sunset. Your menorah may need extra fuel to last the requi-site 1/2 hour after nightfall.

symbolizes the natural order of the universe, as in the seven days of the weekly cycle . Eight, being the first number beyond seven, sym-bolizes transcending nature and embracing the supernatural and miraculous .

Since the miracle of Chanukah occurred in 140 BCE, the menorah has continued to inspire Jews in every time and place . Amid the horrors of the Holocaust and the gloom of the Soviet gulag, the Chanukah menorah burned . Even today, when the world stum-

bles in darkness, the menorah shines bright, its light giving us the strength to persevere .

Perhaps the eight-branched menorah is so popular as a symbol of our eternal optimism that G-d will make things work out for us, even when it seems unlikely .

The Chanukah menorah proclaims G-d’s involvement in our lives, past and present . When we light the menorah this Chanukah, we can be grateful for the private miracles woven into every part of our natural lives .

ON SATURDAY NIGHT, wait until after nightfall when Shabbat ends. Recite Havdalah before lighting.

MANY WOMEN have the cus-tom to take time out from work, including housework, during the first 1/2 hour that the menorah burns to honor the brave women who played a significant role in the Chanukah victory.

TIDBITSInsights and background on some of the

traditional Chanukah customs.

Chanukah GeltThe Hebrew word Chanukah shares the same root as chinuch (education) . The Syr-ian-Greeks were determined to force Hel-lenism upon the Jewish population, at the expense of the ideals and commandments of the holy Torah . Unfortunately, they al-most succeeded in their endeavor . After they were defeated it was necessary to reintroduce Torah values to many Jews .

During Chanukah it is customary to give gelt (money) to children to teach them to in-crease in charity and good deeds and to add to the festive spirit . This gentle persuasion is an essential component in education until a child can independently understand the im-portance and beauty of the Torah .

A deeper reason for this custom:The Greeks assaulted the possessions of Israel in the same spirit in which they ruined the oil in the Holy Temple . They did not destroy the oil; they defiled it . They did not rob the Jewish people; they attempted to infuse their possessions with Greek ideals—that they be used for egotistical and impure ends, rather than holy pursuits .

Chanukah gelt celebrates our freedom and mandate to channel material wealth toward holy ends .

The 5th nightThe Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged the admirable custom of gelt-giving each night of Chanukah (aside from Shabbat) . The most significant night to give is on the fifth, the first night that there are more flames than darkness .

Menorah• The sages taught that the first

light created by G-d was too powerful for humans to use, so He hid it until a time when the world would achieve a higher state . The light that shines out of your Chanukah menorah is that “first light .”

• The windows of the Holy Temple were wider out-side than in . Rather than let the sunlight in like all other windows, the Temple windows were built to let the light of the Menorah out, to shine out to the rest of the world .

• The Chanukah lights tell a story that we try to hear . But it is forbid-den to use the Chanukah

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C h a n u k a h

TIDBITS

lights for any practical reason such as light or heat . This is one reason we keep the shamash candle lit, ensuring that any benefit derived from the lights is from this non-Mitzvah light .

Miracle Oil Since the miracle of Chanukah happened with oil (the olive oil in the menorah), we eat oily foods on Chanukah, such as donuts and potato latkes .

Oil also symbolizes the secret wisdom of the Torah known as Kabbalah . Like oil seeps through a fabric, this wisdom perme-ates every aspect of the Torah . Yet, just as oil remains separate and floats above water, the true depth of Kabbalah always remains just beyond our grasp .

A Chanukah Lesson

As the sun’s light dwindles and night sets in, we light one small candle. The next night we light two. Bit by bit, the light be-comes stronger until we reach the power of eight—a number beyond nature, a miraculous power.

There are so many lessons to be learned from Chanukah, but let’s start here: When darkness looms, make more light. Do more good. Add an-other mitzvah to your life and make your light shine brighter each day.

A mitzvah—a divinely beautiful deed—is a light handed to us from Heaven to uplift our world and make it into a divinely beautiful place. Nothing is more powerful than a mitzvah.

Your efforts may seem small in comparison to the darkness out there, but never underestimate the power of light. Like in the story of the Maccabees, just a little bit of light can chase away a whole lot of darkness.

All of us struggle with darkness—whether from within our own selves or from the big, scary world out there. Chanukah comes to say: Don’t fight the shadows. Instead, light a candle and the darkness will run away.

One More LightChanukah is a lesson in life—perhaps the most important lesson you’ll ever learn. Chanukah is the story of light defying darkness.

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Directions:Grate potatoes and onion and strain through a colander, pressing out excess water .

Add eggs, flour, and seasoning .

Mix well .

Heat ½ cup oil in skillet .

Lower flame and place 1 large tablespoon batter at a time into hot sizzling oil and fry until golden (approx . 5 min) .

Turnover and fry for 2 to 3 minutes .

Remove from pan and place on paper towels to drain excess oil .

Continue with remaining batter until finished, adding more oil when necessary .

Serve with a side of applesauce or sour cream .

By the light of the Chanukah Menorah, young and old enjoy this crisp, holiday treat!

Ingredients:5 large potatoes, peeled1 large onion3 eggs¹/³ cup flour

1 tsp. salt¼ tsp. pepper¾ cup oil for frying

Delicious Potato Latkes

Chanukah treat

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Use: 10-inch skilletYields: 4 to 6 servings

* Note: Recite blessing 3 the first night or the first time you light your menorah this Chanukah.

Lighting Your Menorah

BLESSING #1לך העולם, אשר ברוך אתה ה', א-לקינו מ

נו במצותיו, וצונו להדליק נר חנכה. קדשBaruch Atah Ado-noi, Elo-hei-nu Melech Ha-olam, Asher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sav, Ve-tzi-vanu Le-had-lik Ner Chanukah.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and com-manded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

BLESSING #2לך העולם, שעשה ברוך אתה ה', א-לקינו מ

ינו, בימים ההם בזמן הזה. נסים לאבותBaruch Atah Ado-noi, Elo-hei-nu Melech Ha-olam, She-asa Nisim La-a-vo-sai-nu, Ba-ya-mim Ha-haim Biz-man Ha-zeh.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days at this time.

BLESSING #3*העולם, מלך א-לקינו ה', אתה ברוך

נו לזמן הזה. נו והגיע שהחינו וקימBaruch Atah Ado-noi Elo-hay-nu Melech Ha-olam She-heh-chi-yah-nu Ve-ki-ye-mahnu Ve-hi-gi-ahnu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

AFTER LIGHTING, SAY OR SING:

התשועות, על מדליקין, נו א הללו הנרות ית שעש הנפלאות, ועל הנסים, ועל ידי על הזה, בזמן ההם בימים ינו לאבותחנכה, ימי שמונת וכל הקדושים. כהניך רשות לנו ואין הם, קדש הללו הנרות כדי בלבד, לראותן אלא בהן, להשתמש יך ועל להודות ולהלל לשמך הגדול, על נס

יך: יך ועל ישועות נפלאות

CHANUKAH 2016/5777

Always kindle from left to right beggining with the added light

First Night of Chanukah Saturday, Dec. 24 — Eve of 25 Kislev After night falls and Shabbat ends, reciteHavdalah (www.chabad.org/Havdaalah). Recite blessings 1 and 2, and kindle seven lights on your menorah.

Second Night of Chanukah Sunday, Dec. 25 — Eve of 26 KislevAfter sunset, recite blessings 1 and 2, and kindle two lights on your menorah.

Third Night of Chanukah Monday, Dec. 26 — Eve of 27 KislevAfter sunset, recite blessings 1 and 2, and kindle three lights on your menorah.

Fourth Night of Chanukah Tuesday, Dec. 27 — Eve of 28 KislevAfter sunset, recite blessings 1 and 2, and kindle four lights on your menorah.

Fifth Night of Chanukah Wednesday, Dec. 28 — Eve of 29 KislevAfter sunset, recite blessings 1 and 2, andkindle five lights on your menorah.

Sixth Night of Chanukah Thursday, Dec. 29 — Eve of 1 Tevet After sunset, recite blessings 1 and 2, andkindle five lights on your menorah.

Seventh Night of Chanukah Friday, Dec. 30 — Eve of 2 TevetRecite blessings 1 and 2, and kindle sixlights on your menorah. The menorah must be lit BEFORE lighting Shabbat candles. Light Shabbat candles 18 minutes before sunset. For local candle lighting times visit: Chabad.org/shabbatimes.

Eighth Night of Chanukah Saturday, Jan. 1 — Eve of 3 TevetAfter night falls and Shabbat ends, reciteHavdalah (chabad.org/256963). Reciteblessings 1 and 2, and kindle seven lights on your menorah.

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