Friends of Itamar

Leah’s Blog Chanukah 2024

Leah’s Blog – Chanukah 2024

Reminiscence of Chanukah lights up warm spots on my heart. Once upon a time before cell phones, my sister and I would be waiting for the bus to Coney Island on a snow packed street with wind chill factors freezing our faces. We would go ice skating; there the world felt magical as I glided in my mittens and hat and scarf to the symphony of Celtic music and festive air. Coming home to latkes and playing dreidels that glowed in the dark, I could stare at our electric chanukiah by the window sill for hours. It was and is a time of year that everyone bundles up and you can’t discern who anyone even is under all those coats and jackets. The Chanukiah shines bright at the window pane of our homes, telling our story – a victory of the Jews in Judea, the story of who we are.

Now is a time of hearth and home, which all the more so have me thinking about our hostages and our soldiers in the cold mud. Again, as a nation we find ourselves in the same template of plot and theme. This is a story of the same territory as then and like then we are clarifying what fighting spirit for territorial integrity means. In the story of the Maccabees the wars spanned over seven years in eight battles with us losing twice. We cannot afford to lose even once. Now we refine what ethical means, as the battle for our safety and the safety of our soldiers knocks on the panes of our very doors. There is no wind chill but the Ruach factor blasts now and you feel it.

These are miraculous times!

This is the battle of PURE vs. Evil.

This is the battle of light over darkness

As the enemy creeps unto and into us, we fight Hellenism at the same time as it threatens to have us assimilate into the abyss. This is the story line. Our drive for eternal honor then as now has us knowing hope is not lost. The message of Chanukah is about being pro- active. It is not about receiving gifts but about self -sacrifice as the Maccabees had to be out in the rain in Gofna, giving their lives. The Judea- Syrian wars are happening again. This is a fight for Israel’s sovereignty.

Friends we are about the end the fiscal year. This war is costing dearly not only in precious lives but families are roughing it. Please keep Friends of Itamar, our 501c3 in mind as we continue in our mission in helping out in so many realms here. We have also embarked on a new project and will be Beezraht Hashem building a science room for our girl’s elementary school. Continue to join us on Facebook at Friends of Itamar and our website. Bring friends and family into this crucial pipeline of love and support from you into Israel.

HELP US HELP THEM

Chanukah Sameyach to our dear friends and a huge thank you for all of your love and care. The word Chanukah means dedication, coming from the root word chinnuch- to educate. This is a crucial time for all lovers of Zion to continue carrying the torch of truth and identity in the darkness that surrounds us now. The miracle is we’ve made it until this time of restoration. Feel blessed in the awesome light you shine my dear brothers and sisters!

Blessings, LEAH