What is the meaning of Hanukkah? There are many answers. Some are filled with the myths that entertain children; some are scholarly treatises on the history of the Greco-Assyrians and the Kingdom of Judea. No matter the comprehensiveness of the answer, every year I am asked by adults and children if the oil really lasted for eight days.

 

I have been discussing the real meaning of Hanukkah with our religious school students and wanted to share what they have been learning with our entire congregation. Rabbi Hara Person, the editor of the URJ Press, has written a wonderful synopsis of this topic. I share it with you in its entirety below.

 

Shalom and Chag Hanukkat Sameach,

Rabbi Joseph M. Forman

 

Will the Real Hanukah Please Stand Up

Hara Person

 

Hanukah can be a confusing holiday. There are two basic versions of the story of Hanukah, at opposite ends of the spectrum. There is the nice kid's story about brave heroes, miracles, good guys and bad guys.

 

And from the history books, there is a story that involves violence, warfare, Jew fighting against Jew, and lots of ugly politics. So what do these two stories have to do with each other? What is the real story of Hanukah?

 

Click here to read the entire article.

Dear members of Or Chadash,

While this November has been a stressful month for many in our community, I want to thank everyone who contributed to our recent goods drive for the benefit of those suffering from loss from Hurricane Sandy - and thank Rabbi Forman for bringing this project to our attention and Betsy Zalaznick for all her help in organizing and communicating this to our community.  In addition to contributions from our own members, we received many donations from those in our community who also felt a desire to help those in need.
 
In total, as a result of  a grass-roots effort that began only one week before distribution, almost three thousand dollars worth of baby products and cleaning supplies were delivered to Temple Shalom, Aberdeen Township, a redistribution site for affected Bayshore Communities.   Many members participated in our kick off meeting and helped solicit contributions but I would like to especially thank our shoppers - Cheryl Lifshitz and Caryn Tomljanovich - and our drivers - Beth Golden and Steve Sinoway and Cindy and Shayna Lehrer - for going the extra mile.  As a community, we should take pride in our actions to help our fellow New Jerseyans in need.
 
The needs of our community don't end there, though. On a happier note, Hanukkah is just around the corner and with it brings our tradition of Ner Shel Tzeddakah, Candle of Righteousness, where on the 6th night, instead of exchanging gifts, we donate the cost of gifts that day to a charitable organization.   This year we will be supporting the Sand Hill Youth Home and hopefully bringing some real joy into the lives of the children that live there.  Look below in the Ner Shel Tzeddakah section for more information on how you can help.
 
Wishing you and your family and early Chag Sameach.

Jeff Berg
President

I always love the first snowfall of the season. It brings with it a
sense of quiet calmness, almost as if the earth is going to sleep under
a downy cover of white.  Watching the big, wet flakes float down in the
night sky reminds me that the seasons are changing, heralding in a time
of shortened days and long, dark nights. My dogs have mixed reactions to this frozen form of precipitation. One of them is less than thrilled while the other two frolic together in the yard, scooping up mouthfuls of the stuff as they chase each other, kicking up showers of white in
their wake.
 
How fitting it is that as we enter our season of darkness we look forward to our Festival of Light, Chanukah, for it is in darkness that the presence of light becomes most apparent.  Next Saturday night as we kindle the first candle of our chanukiah, that one tiny flame will pierce through the darkness with a power reminiscent of the miracle of the rededication of The Holy Temple. We will retell the signs and
wonders of old as we gather with family and friends exchanging gifts, playing dreidl and eating our fill of "la-la-la-la-la-la-latkes."  But underneath all of the feasts and festivities the wonder still remains, reflected in the glow of the candles. Each night as the light grows brighter and brighter, so does our sense of awe, eventually growing
bright enough to dispel even the darkest of darkness in the world. This year may the light of Chanukah shine bright within your hearts, and may it sustain you throughout the coming year.

I invite you to join with us on Sunday morning, December 9th, at 11am and Friday night, December 14th, at 7pm as we gather as a congregation to celebrate.  On Friday night our 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes will be participating in services. There will be music and merriment with more than enough light to chase off the winter chill. There will be
latkes galore with all the trimmings.  I look forward to seeing all of you!

Bles-sings,
Kathy

November Temple Tots

 

     Trip to the Lower East Side NYC.

 

Jason Podgorski became a Bar Mitzvah on December 1.  He is the son of Carolyn and Ed Podgorski and younger brother of Rachel Podgorski. Jason is in the seventh grade at Readington Middle School.  He enjoys playing baseball, basketball, and golf.  Jason's Mitzvah project was playing sports with the kids in the Hunterdon Outreach Program.  Jason's Torah portion, Vayishlach, tells the story of Jacobs' name being changed to Israel.  Jason enjoyed celebrating his Bar Mitzvah with his family.