Page 18-THE NEWS-December. 1988
LUBAVITCH OF N. C.
Thoughts From The
Lubavitcher Rebbe
Chanukah
By Rabbi Yossi Groner
The story of Chanukah is
first found in the Talmud
(Tractate Shabbos) with a
short description: “During the
occupation of the Holy Land
by the Greeks, they entered
the Hechel (inner sanctum of
the Holy Temple in Jerusalem)
and defiled all the oils. When
the Hasmoneans defeated
them, one cruse of oil was
found, which, evidently, had
not been touched by the
Greeks. It contained enough
oil only for one day. The
menorah was rekindled and
the oil miraculously lasted
eight days until new oil could
be prepared.”
Although the description in
the Talmud is short, neverthe
less it conveys a powerful
message. From the text of the
Talmud it is clear that the
defilement of the oil was not
accidental, but intentional and
systematic.
This is a bit puzzling. If the
purpose of the Greeks was to
extinguish the light of the
menorah and prevent its re-
, kindling, why did they merely
defile the oil? They could have
accomplished this more effec
tively by destroying it com
pletely.
The true objective of the
Greeks was not to prevent the
kindling of the menorah, but
rather that it should be kin
dled with defiled oil. Hence,
they purposely left a supply of
defiled oil in the sanctuary to
be readily available for this
purpose. This, in fact, is the
essential message of Chanu
kah.
The Greeks were willing to
recognize the Torah, or even
accept it as a perfect and beau-
BRING BACK
OLD MEMORIES!
VIDEO TRANSFER
Convert your old home movies and
slides to video tape for easy viewing.
Our quality is the best available with
quick return and most important we
do it right here in Charlotte. Your
precious memories aren’t mailed or
shipped with the possibility they
might get lost.
BIGGS 80S S. KINGS DR. • 377-3492
^ A HA ^ O A * 549-4912
Hll INDEPENDENCE SHP. CTR. • 536-9076
IKdllGC C€NTCRS overstreh mall • 376-6149
Day School Adds New Modular Building
tiful literary creation, a work
of poetry, wisdom, profound
philosophy, provided it was
considered a human creation,
like their own mythology
which was a human creation
where duties were represented
in human shapes or forms with
human cheu-acteristics, pas
sions, etc. As such the Torah
could be changed and modified
from time to time, so as to fit
in with the character of the
ruling class.
It was not the supression of
the Torah that they aimed at,
but at its acceptance as the
G-d given word, as G-d’s
Torah. Similarly, they were
not averse to the moral and
ethical values contained in the
Torah, but they prohibited the
Divine “supra-rational” pre
cepts, which make the Jewish
way of life holy and pure.
The Maccabees could not ac
cept the Greek approach. They
stood up to the challenge and
rallied Israel behind them.
Although they were in the
minority, their message was
loud and clear and people all
over Israel heeded their mes
sage.
Just as a candle, so pure and
bright, illuminates darkness
with one small flame, so it is
with the pure and bright mes
sage of the Torah. Chanukah
teaches us the importance of
quality over quantity, the pure
over the defiled.
When we kindle the meno
rah in our homes on Chanu
kah, we listen to the message
of the flickering flames: to be
pure as light, a light which
reflects the purity of G-d. This
light can overcome and dispeU
the greatest darkness of our
time and warm the hearts of
our people to the pure and
holy Torah.
A new modular building was
added to the Chabad House.
The new building with its
spacious classrooms will house
the kindergarten and Judaica
program.
“As our school grows, the
need for adequate space in
creases,” said Mariashi
Groner, administrator at
Lubavitch School. “We have
seen an increase of enrollment
in our preschool, day school
and Tedmud Torah,” she seiid.
“We are pleased to provide the
programming, especially in
the facility.”
Susan Doobrow, who teaches
the kindergarten/first grade,
couldn’t hide her excitement
with the new building. The
program has done very well
under Susan’s guidance. Her
diligent effort in teaching the
children has produced excel
lent results.
Chanie Weiss, Judaica
New modular
building.
teacher, has created a Judaica
room in the new building. This
room will not only be for kin
dergarten use, but will house
the very successful Talmud
Torah program at Lubavtich.
Chanie Weiss and Susan
Doobrow have decorated the
new classrooms with a delight
ful appeal to children. “The
rooms convey a good feeling of
warmth and acceptemce to the
little ones,” said one of the
parents.
Chanie Weiss with Ian Block dur
ing Jewish story time.
Conference Held at Lubavitch World Headquarters
Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbis,
representing every Jewish
community in the world,
gathered for the annual Inter-
nationsd Conference held at
Lubavitch World Headquar
ters in Brooklyn, New York.
The theme of this year’s con
ference was Jewish education.
This was in response to the
Lubavitcher Rebbe’s call to
proclaim this year as the
“Year of the Jewish Child.”
Rabbis Yossi Groner and
Binyomin Weiss attended the
conference, as did Rabbi Hesh
Epstein from Columbia, SC
and Rabbi Doron Aizenman
from Myrtle Beach, SC.
The conference, giving
educators and Rabbis the op
portunity to exchange ideas
and thoughts concerning Jew
ish education, was addressed
by the world Jewish leader.
Rabbi Menachem M. Schneer-
son, the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
The Rebbe emphasized the
need for dedicated leadership
in Jewish education. He also
encouraged the Rabbis to
devote this year to build new
Jewish educational buildings.
One of the highlights of the
convention was a dinner held
in honor of the Rabbis and
their supporters. During the
dinner, each group of dele
gates was introduced by state
or country.
OSHlfoSH
B’GOSH"
Back to
the basics.
Durable OshKosh B'Gosh® bibs make a great
foundation for your child's wardrobe. And now
they're available in stone washed and
pre-washed denim at very special holiday prices!
—HOLIDAY SPECIAL— —
TAKE AN ADDITIONAL
15% OFF
OshKosh Bib Overalls
In Basic Denim & Railroad Stripe Only
Coupon Expires 12/15/88
L&S CHILDREN'S FASHIONS
Charlotte's One Stop Chiidren'$ Shop
Loehmann's Plaza Pa-lc
567-2006 527-5282