Emet Outreach Presents An “Illuminating Chanukah” Lecture With Rabbi YY Jacobson

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In celebration of the 6^th night of Chanukah, Emet Outreach hosted a virtual lecture “From Darkness to Light.” Featuring a keynote address by Rabbi YY Jacobson, and produced by Kaykov Media, the message was one of hope, strength and emunah in these challenging times.

The program opened with remarks by Rabbi Akiva Rutenberg, Emet Co-Founder and Director. Rabbi Rutenberg drew a parallel between Emet’s mission and the story of Chanukah.  “I’d like to think that Chanukah is Emet’s holiday, because everything that we’re about is really what the Chashmonaim were fighting for over 2000 years ago,” he said.  “The battle in the Chanukah story was unique in that it was a spiritual battle for the Jewish people. The Greeks, under King Antiochus, wanted the Jews to assimilate and become part of regular society. The Chashmonaim fought to keep the light of Torah burning in a dark world. So too at Emet, especially during these difficult times, we strive to make Torah accessible to our students in every way we can.”

The evening was dedicated in memory of Shimon Alexander ben Nachman HaKohen, the father-in-law of Rabbi Mordechai Kraft, Emet Co-Founder and Educational Director. Rabbi Kraft added an emotional dimension to the program with his recollections of his father-in-law, who was a Holocaust survivor. “Like the story of Chanukah, his life epitomized finding light in the darkness. He was someone who was a giver and was always looking to help others. Despite the challenges he experienced, he had gratitude to G-d,” Rabbi Kraft said. “My father-in-law was a person who chose emunah, chose gratitude, chose goodness and chose to help others. The legacy he has left his family, and the message I can bestow by his example, is to have optimism and faith in Hashem when things are difficult.”

Rabbi Jacobson began his compelling address with a story about the ancient Talmudic debate between Rav and Shmuel about whether a regular Chanukah candle (and not just the shamash) can be used to light the other candles. Rav says only the shamash can be used so as not to diminish its flame, but Shmuel says any candle can be used. In this case, Jewish law follows Shmuel’s position. As Rabbi Jacobson explained, “Shmuel says when you take your light and you use it to set another Jewish soul on fire, your flame is not diminished. Your flame grows stronger and stronger. By the same token, when a Jew dedicates time to connect with and inspire another Jew, that is our greatest power, spreading the light of Torah.”

Rabbi Jacobson described an iconic photo taken by the Posner family in Kiel, Germany on the eighth night of Chanukah in 1932. In the image, the menorah is situated on their window sill within view of the swastika-draped headquarters of the Nazi party across the street. On the back of the photo Mrs. Posner inscribed a poignant message “’Death to Judah’, so the flag says. ‘Judah will live forever’, so the light answers.” The family arrived in Israel in 1934 and the menorah and photo are both displayed in Yad Vashem to immortalize Jewish survival.

A powerful message that Rabbi Jacobson shared was that, “the real achievement of Chanukah was that it managed to ignite the flame in the human heart and rekindle the spark of hope, faith, resilience and commitment to Hashem.”

The program was generously sponsored by Kamin Health Urgent Care and the Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

While the lecture had a Chanukah-focus, the themes discussed have daily relevance. The program can be viewed at www.TorahAnytime.org/Emet.

For further information about Emet classes and programs, visit www.EmetOutreach.org.