KAILUA-KONA — Hanukkah began at sundown Sunday evening, however the Chabad Jewish Center of the Big Island celebrated with a menorah lighting ceremony Tuesday evening at Lanihau Center, complete with doughnuts, latkes and activities for the keiki.
KAILUA-KONA — Hanukkah began at sundown Sunday evening, however the Chabad Jewish Center of the Big Island celebrated with a menorah lighting ceremony Tuesday evening at Lanihau Center, complete with doughnuts, latkes and activities for the keiki.
Hanukkah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.
The Chabad Jewish Center states that in the second century B.C., the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in God. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on Earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the holy temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it.
When they sought to light the temple’s menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. They lit the menorah and miraculously, the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.
To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah.
Rabbi Levi Gerlitzky said that in the wake of the recent synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, the holiday is especially relevant today. The lighting of the menorah shows that with a little bit of light comes truth.
“This is a message for everyone that with love we can accomplish more and make this world a better place,” said Gerlitzky. “There’s no such thing as too much love.”
“There’s no such thing as too much love.” Why is it then that so many Big Island Jews so deeply hate and oppose President Trump . Trump , who is arguably the very most pro-Israel and Jewish friendly U.S. President in our history and at a super critical time . These same people loved and almost venerated Barack Obama , who was the best friend the Palestinians ever had ,promoting their causes at the U.N. , calling for a return to indefensible borders for Israel , treating their PM with ill-concealed contempt , and reneging on moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem . Trump on the other hand has done exactly what he has promised to do fir and with the Jewish state . All good ! Yet American Jews hate him . His daughter is a converted Jew and his grandchildren are Jewish . Jewish traditions are celebrated in their homes . Just today President Trump invited a large gathering of Jewish people , including many Holocaust survivors , to the White House and their lit the Menorah with them ,alon with Jewish prayers . And yet so many American Liberal Jews hate his guts . Why ? Are they Liberals first and Jews second ? I think so . And one day they will have to account to their Gd for that .
Liberalism is a mental disease.
I am Jewish and Trump Supporter, as well as 100% of all “jews” I know.
You only see the idiots in the news.
I will say that tho: If you are such a big Trump supporter, why the hell do you come here and say a bunch of crap, after knowing about FAKE NEWS?????
Grow up, and don’t assume things.
Sorry if my words offended you , but I also know many Jews here on the Big Island , many were hippies in their youth , and not one , that I know of , has a good thing to say about Trump , or any other Republican for that matter . On the contrary they pride themselves as being part of the ‘ resistance’ , they have organized and take part on The Women’s March , they head up the North Hawaii Alliance ,etc etc etc. It is to all of those , whom I know to be both Trump haters and Jewish , that I address my remarks . Not you . Mt comment has nothing to do with “the news” , or the fake news , strictly local observations , extrapolated to a clear and obvious shared sentiment across the broader and wider nation . As for you , good person, you must lead a rather cloistered life if the only Jews you know support President Trump . What proof can you present of your assertion ? My observations are exactly opposite . As I point out here .
The statistics for the 2016 election support your observations. Since 1920 they have voted en masse for democrats. usually be at least a 2-1 margin.
As I point out , many America Jews seem to be much more Liberals First and Jews second . If they can ignore the fact that a man in leadership of our country is the mostly overtly Jewish friendly and State of Israel supportive, in our nation’s history , and instead choose to go with all the masses of lemmings vociferously condemning him for everything they can think of under the sun ; then indeed they are Libs first ad Jews 2nd . One day Gd will judge them .