FIFTH NIGHT OF CHANUKAH AND 2 STORIES

Dear Family,

We continue to wish Dov a Refuah shleimah, and soon! Lots of love from all of us Dov.

Mazal Tov to Leora on her birthday next week on Rosh Chodesh. Wishing you a very happy year Leora with much achievement!

We wish long life to Claude and Joy on the yohrtzeit of Gregg. You should have only happy occasions in the future BEH

As a child growing up in SA with its good weather, affluence and good life, it never entered my head seriously to explore our roots and the life experience of my parents or their Families etc.

We were totally involved in sports, getting on with our education and lives etc, oblivious of our past, our history, and Jewishness.

But now, through our growing Family Group, more keeps coming to light BH.

This past week I have been in touch with Selma, Leslie Hyman and Kevin.

Leslie has provided us with much more information about the Tuch side of our Family, and Kevin has updated this on the attached, updated Family Tree, which he created and continues to update. Kevin was also reminiscing on his parents (Zelda and ah Stan) trip to Baltimore in the 70's and how happy they were to meet the extended Hyman Family!

But my main surprise and revelation this week, came from Selma, and I quote in her words:

"My father only ever acknowledged his Hebrew birthdate and although his birthday was registered as the 16 December, he always said he was born on the 'fimfde lichtel' ( excuse my Yiddish ) His all time favourite food was latkes, with kreplach a close second

So Chanukah is always a special celebration for us, especially the 5 th night "

This really 'blew me over', firstly, because I never knew this connection of Uncle Maike (Meyer) to the 5th night of Chanukah, in a period of my life when I did not even know what was Chanukah. And secondly for the great importance of the 5th night of Chanukah (which I am starting to understand.)

And this emerged right now before this Chanukah!!

Together with the following article that I saw this week from Rabbi Yehudah Shurpin in Chabad.org:

"Every night of Chanukah is a time of joy and celebration, but the fifth night of Chanukah holds a special place in many traditions, including Chabad. On this night the Rebbes would traditionally host Family gatherings called latke evenings. It is also customary to give additional Chanukah gelt, more than on other nights." !!

Rabbi Shurpin continues to explain this exceptional specialness of the 5th night of Chanukah:

• It can never fall on Shabbat. Therefore it works out to be the darkest day of Chanukah (and of the year). And because the purpose of Chanukah is to bring light to the darkness, we need to bring a more powerful light to that night. (with the extra celebrations) ie the light that we bring is more powerful.
• Chanukah Gelt. Some people only give Chanukah gelt on one of the nights of Chanukah. Therefore this would be the best one to use because it never falls on Shabbat (when one cannot handle money). But also the Mitzvah of Tzedakah brings extra happiness and light which again strengthens the above point.
• On the 5th night there are now more lit candles than unlit. (just past halfway). This symbolises the tipping point in bringing more light to the world.
• Yom Kippur Katan occurs always on the day before a Rosh Chodesh. It is a day, like Yom Kippur, to do introspection and teshuvah. The 5th night of Chanukah is the day before Rosh Chodesh Tevet, but on this month, the 5th night of Chanukah has the power to reach these spiritual heights of other months, with its joy and celebration alone.

Another interesting story about the 5th night of Chanukah occurred in our community in Stamford Hill many years ago. It involved Mr and Mrs Gluck ah who were close friends of us and my parents. It is a long miraculous story, and so I am attaching it for those who have the time.

Gut Shabbos, and Gut Chanukah, with lots of light and continued revelation and miracles!