Menorah shines bright in Norwood

The Canton Chai Center celebrated the start of the Chanukah season last week at the Norwood Town Common with the first candle lit of the holiday’s season.

Rabbi Mendy Horowitz dedicated the first candle to Rabbi Eli Schlanger, the rabbi who was tending his own Menorah lighting earlier that day at Bondi Beach when he was struck down by two gunmen.

“And to all those who lost their lives today, we’re dedicating this candle to light their memory,” he said.

Horowitz told the story of the Maccabees over Syrian kingdom of Antiochus Epiphanes IV, who fought back in a guerrilla war against the Syrian army, and after three years of fighting won out against the organized troops.

“They did not have to go out and wage war, but yet they did and the miracle was that they won the war; but the miracle of Chanukah and what we celebrate is the miracle of the light, the flame and the candle,” he said. “The miracle of the oil, because when they came to the Temple, and they found only one jug of pure oil, only enough for one day and it lasted eight days, and that’s something that’s really relevant for us today.”

Horowitz said last year they dedicated the lighting to the hostages still held by Hamas, and now those hostages who are still alive are freed.

“People throughout the world were praying for their freedom and praying for peace, and thank God, the living ones are all back home,” he said. “When you hear the stories of these hostages, they all say they can feel when they were in captivity, how the prayers of all those out there praying for them and doing good deeds in their name, helped them through this terrible ordeal. And when they came out, they asked people to continue to do good deeds. And that’s really the message of Chanukah.”

Horowitz said it might not seem like one good deed can make a difference, but he said continued action, continued belief and dedicated good works shine through.

“[One wonders] how does that make a difference in the big scheme of things? But the truth is it does,” he said. “The truth and eternal message of Chanukah – that when you keep on lighting light and keep at it, not backing down not being afraid, just going with love and truth, like the story with the Maccabees, they were victorious and were able to go back to the Temple and rededicate the Menorah – so, too, each and every one of us will be able to do so as well. I want to thank each and every one of you here tonight because each and every one of you are ambassadors of light! You are here to testify and say, ‘Light will overpower darkness and good will overpower evil!’”

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Horowitz pointed out this Menorah was dedicated to Norwood mainstay Aron Greenfield, whose family donated the Menorah they lit on the Common.

“This Menorah was started and first lit by holocaust survivor and longtime Norwood resident Aron Greenfield, and the Menorah is dedicated in his memory,” he said. “He always taught us by example of how one should not be afraid and continue to march on with light and with love.”

For more information on the Chai center, go to https://www.jewishcanton.com