Bringing The Light Of Chanukah Into The Year

On Monday night, December 22, men and women from across Queens gathered at Beth Gavriel in Flushing for an evening of inspiration and reflection titled “Bringing the Light of Chanukah Into The Year.” Hosted by Chazaq in partnership with Meorot Initiatives, the program centered on a question that resonates long after the final candle is lit: how does the light of Chanukah continue to illuminate Jewish life throughout the year?

The evening opened with remarks by Robbie Aboff, Operations Manager at Chazaq, who framed the theme of the night reflecting on the spiritual intensity of Chanukah and the responsibility that comes with it.

“Chanukah was never meant to be an eight-day experience,” Aboff said. “It’s meant to be a 365-day mission—bringing light not only into our own lives, but into the lives of our families, friends, and communities.”

To illustrate his point, Aboff shared a parable of a city power operator who, during a massive blackout, relied on his personal flashlight instead of restoring electricity to the entire city. The message was clear: Jewish inspiration cannot remain private. Each person bears responsibility not only for their own light, but for illuminating the world around them.

 

Guarding Jewish Identity Beyond Chanukah

The evening’s first featured address was delivered by Rabbi Maor Bendel, who spoke with urgency and emotional depth about the spiritual battles Jews face—especially in the days and weeks following Chanukah.

Rabbi Bendel emphasized that Chanukah does not truly end when the candles are extinguished. The ideological struggle between Jewish values and external influences continues daily, often through subtle cultural pressures that appear harmless on the surface.

“The Greeks didn’t want Jews dead,” Rabbi Bendel explained. “They wanted Jews disconnected from Judaism.”

Drawing on Jewish history, he reminded the audience that previous generations—from Jews living under Soviet repression to families during the Holocaust—risked their lives to preserve even the smallest expressions of Jewish faith. Those sacrifices, he said, place a responsibility on today’s Jews to guard what enters their homes and what values are passed on to the next generation.

Referencing the origins of the dreidel, Rabbi Bendel explained that it was once used as a disguise to hide Torah learning from Greek soldiers. What is now a simple children’s game was once an act of courage and resistance. Every symbol of Chanukah, he noted, exists to remind Jews of the sacrifices their ancestors made to preserve kedushah and Jewish identity.

The true battle, Rabbi Bendel stressed, is not fought in the streets—but in the heart and within the home, where small compromises can quietly reshape values over time.

 

Mesirut Nefesh And Living Above Nature

Rabbi Tomer Zino, Rav of the Netz Minyan, followed with a powerful address focused on mesirut nefesh—self-sacrifice—and how it serves as the key to Divine blessing.

Rabbi Zino explored why open miracles were more common in earlier generations, explaining that they lived lives defined by pushing beyond comfort for the sake of Torah and mitzvot. When a person rises above natural limitations, he said, Heaven responds in kind.

Citing teachings from the Gemara, Rabbi Zino explained that mesirut nefesh does not necessarily mean dramatic acts or public heroism. More often, it means doing what is personally difficult—guarding one’s speech, resisting social pressure, waking early to pray, prioritizing learning, or choosing integrity when compromise would be easier.

“The mitzvah that is hardest for you,” Rabbi Zino said, “is often the reason you were brought into this world.”

He warned that one of the greatest spiritual challenges today is social pressure—the fear of standing apart or being perceived differently. True Jewish strength, he said, comes from choosing the harder path, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Rabbi Zino concluded by reminding the audience that the value of mitzvot far exceeds what the eye can see. What may feel like sacrifice in this world is, in truth, eternal gain.

 

Carrying The Light Forward

As the evening came to a close, the message resonated clearly throughout the room: Chanukah is not merely a holiday—it is a mission. The candles may be put away, but their light is meant to guide Jewish life every day of the year.

Through heartfelt words, historical perspective, and practical guidance, the program left attendees inspired to protect their Jewish identity, strengthen their homes, and carry the light of Chanukah forward—proudly, intentionally, and without compromise.

By Shabsie Saphirstein