History Rewritten
by Rabbi Shalom Ciment
The age-old blessing of the Jew as he kindles his Menorah states "for his miracles in those days, in these times." One legendary Torah giant described this praise as being much more powerful than its peripheral translation. We do not just thank G‑d for the miracles of history, but actually we relive and re-enliven those miraculous powers in these times, each year becoming beneficent of a more powerful blessing of miracles, of the kind which were in those days.
If amazing can be a souvenir, than tens of thousands of Jews came home from the first night of Chanukah in Orlando's Universal Studios, the vacation capital of the world, with a souvenir which will not be forgotten.
Somewhere between their memory and imagination they will possess a memento, unlike any other. At the one acclaimed point on earth where fantasy, physical daring, awesome lighting, choreography and affects meet, something much more powerful than these artificial props was created.
It began very early Sunday morning, December 25, as thousands lined up for their "walking menorah t-shirts." On these shirts, for men, women and little children was emblazoned, in full color, the famed Universal Studios globe and logo, and on its top was a menorah, reading; "Chanukah - Chabad of Florida wishes you a Happy Chanukah."
Throughout the day in the Universal and Island of Adventure Theme Parks, you spotted these walking and talking menorahs, zipping up and down the thrill rides, shrieking at the 3D show "The Shrek," or silently reciting the Shema as "The Incredible Hulk" turned them inside out on its 8 looped monstrous roller coaster. Universal's newest attraction, Spiderman, his eye certainly caught these shining menorahs glaring off of these bumbling thrill-seekers.
"La-La Bamba" that song, took on a new meaning on December 25th, 2005 as Universal Studios had to order three times its expected Glatt kosher meat and food order to serve the lunch and dinner patrons of Chanukah 2005 at their renowned, fully Koshered, La Bamba restaurant in Universal and its Jurassic Falls equal, in Islands of Adventures.
The day flew by almost as fast, as "Doctor Dooms Fearfall" ride which rocketed these menorah clad daredevils 150 feet into the air only to drop them faster than gravity itself. But the very best was yet to come.
As hundreds of the park's guests were finishing their sumptuous Glatt Kosher dinner at La-Bamba, Snoopy, Woody Woodpecker, and a the group of the park's main characters were busy assembling the Menorah outside the restaurant for a lighting ceremony by Rabbi Yossi Konikov, Chabad Rabbi of mid-Orlando. The blessings were chanted, by a junior, modern day Maccabee, 8 year old Yossie
Duchman, and the first candle was lit. The overflow crowd almost instantaneously started together the timeless song of "Am Yisroel Chai"- The Nation of Israel is Alive. Thus, began the Menorah parade down "City Walk" towards its main stage.
As six strong men hoisted the Menorah on their shoulder, thousands streamed after them, with a march of celebratory defiance that caught many a spectator, teary eyed. This same route is used by the "Macy Holiday Parade of Orlando" but tonight it was used, with all of its multi-million dollar gallantry, as the Chabad Menorah Parade of 5766.
Waiting at main stage of City walk, home to one of the world's most famous intersections of entertainment, music and nightlife for countless thousands, was Rabbi Pinny Andrusier, Rabbi Sholom Dubov, and Rabbi Abraham Korf, the day's chief organizer, Chabad representative to Orlando, and Florida's regional Chabad director, respectively.
Set against a backdrop of a 100 foot image of everyone's shirts and a sound system that made the neighboring Hard Rock Café, City Jazz, and all the hundreds of security personnel dancing in their places, Israel's hottest music stars Gad Elbaz, Benny Elbaz and Yehuda Glantz gave a whole new meaning to the words, "rock and roll."
For hours, tens of thousands rocked and rolled with the Menorah's
inextinguishable flames. Thousands of packets containing ready to use tin Menorahs and candles were distributed. Shabbat candle packets were given for free to many hundreds of Jewish women and girls, from throughout the world, who chanced upon this awesome Judaic experience.
It is hard to imagine back over 20 centuries ago when Mattisyahu and his brave Maccabees overtook the great armies of the Greeks and the then violated Holy Temple. Then, as now, the integral Chanukah lesson and the one celebrated through the holiday's centerpiece, the Menorah, is all about bringing our people back from the brink of assimilation. In Mattisyahu's era it was the tantalizing influence of the sophisticated Greek culture. 2200 years later, the battle continues and the unsung Maccabees of today are the Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries who have erected this year alone, close to 12,000 Public Menorahs throughout the world.
These public Menorah lightings draw crowds ranging from 50,000 to 50. The lighting of these Menorahs is, though, just a means to an end. As the young lady from Virginia who came running and crying to one of the Chabad Rabbis in Universal; "I can't believe what I'm seeing, please give me shirts for my whole family, menorahs, Shabbat candles, whatever you have, if this can be happening, and G‑d sent me here to see it, it's time for me and my family to wake up and be a part of our true family and heritage."
It is certainly not only the candles of the respective 12,000 menorahs, but more importantly the innumerable souls, who are warmed by the sight of Jewish pride, unbridled joy and an unwavering and unending commitment to our faith.
In an era when the US postal service prints a Chanukah stamp, when The President of The United States welcomes hundreds of Jews into his White House for a Chanukah reception only after the first lady calls on Chabad to fully Kosher the White House Kitchen, when Homeland Security Chief Michael Chernoff personally lights the Menorah for the world's safety on the White House's Esplanade,
when President Vladmir Putin comes personally to light the Menorah in the same Red Square where he lead the feared KGB a short decade ago, can we say that Mattisyahu's victory is going forward and the miracles of those times are being revisited stronger and mightier than ever before.
History is undeniably being rewritten by the clarion vision of The
Lubavitcher Rebbe and his 4000 centers of pure light throughout the world, 137 Chabad-Lubavitch centers in the State of Florida alone. Chanukah brings thousands of Chabad Rabbis to international landmarks, governor's mansions, world leader's offices, huge malls, Israeli army bases, open air concerts, hospitals, nursing homes and even the Jewish incarcerated. Now, Universal Studios can be added to the growing list.
Pieced together, each is a major step forward in the unstoppable march onward, onto victory. 2200 years ago it began, but the same energy of the same miracles, perhaps, today is at its strongest.
Just as in those days it was one cruise of inviolable pure oil which lit up the world, so too the march is towards the ultimate victory, the rekindling of the original Menorah, in the rebuilt and glorious Jerusalem. G‑d's light will then reign in the world alone and overpower and outshine any darkness and evil that is rearing its ugliest of heads, in its last-ditch panicking efforts, grabbing at straws which will obviously be destroyed by the eternal Menorah, Universal Freedom for all.
Universal Chanukah 5766 it was, and Universal Freedom 5766, it will be.
by Rabbi Shalom Ciment
The age-old blessing of the Jew as he kindles his Menorah states "for his miracles in those days, in these times." One legendary Torah giant described this praise as being much more powerful than its peripheral translation. We do not just thank G‑d for the miracles of history, but actually we relive and re-enliven those miraculous powers in these times, each year becoming beneficent of a more powerful blessing of miracles, of the kind which were in those days.
If amazing can be a souvenir, than tens of thousands of Jews came home from the first night of Chanukah in Orlando's Universal Studios, the vacation capital of the world, with a souvenir which will not be forgotten.
Somewhere between their memory and imagination they will possess a memento, unlike any other. At the one acclaimed point on earth where fantasy, physical daring, awesome lighting, choreography and affects meet, something much more powerful than these artificial props was created.
It began very early Sunday morning, December 25, as thousands lined up for their "walking menorah t-shirts." On these shirts, for men, women and little children was emblazoned, in full color, the famed Universal Studios globe and logo, and on its top was a menorah, reading; "Chanukah - Chabad of Florida wishes you a Happy Chanukah."
Throughout the day in the Universal and Island of Adventure Theme Parks, you spotted these walking and talking menorahs, zipping up and down the thrill rides, shrieking at the 3D show "The Shrek," or silently reciting the Shema as "The Incredible Hulk" turned them inside out on its 8 looped monstrous roller coaster. Universal's newest attraction, Spiderman, his eye certainly caught these shining menorahs glaring off of these bumbling thrill-seekers.
"La-La Bamba" that song, took on a new meaning on December 25th, 2005 as Universal Studios had to order three times its expected Glatt kosher meat and food order to serve the lunch and dinner patrons of Chanukah 2005 at their renowned, fully Koshered, La Bamba restaurant in Universal and its Jurassic Falls equal, in Islands of Adventures.
The day flew by almost as fast, as "Doctor Dooms Fearfall" ride which rocketed these menorah clad daredevils 150 feet into the air only to drop them faster than gravity itself. But the very best was yet to come.
As hundreds of the park's guests were finishing their sumptuous Glatt Kosher dinner at La-Bamba, Snoopy, Woody Woodpecker, and a the group of the park's main characters were busy assembling the Menorah outside the restaurant for a lighting ceremony by Rabbi Yossi Konikov, Chabad Rabbi of mid-Orlando. The blessings were chanted, by a junior, modern day Maccabee, 8 year old Yossie
Duchman, and the first candle was lit. The overflow crowd almost instantaneously started together the timeless song of "Am Yisroel Chai"- The Nation of Israel is Alive. Thus, began the Menorah parade down "City Walk" towards its main stage.
As six strong men hoisted the Menorah on their shoulder, thousands streamed after them, with a march of celebratory defiance that caught many a spectator, teary eyed. This same route is used by the "Macy Holiday Parade of Orlando" but tonight it was used, with all of its multi-million dollar gallantry, as the Chabad Menorah Parade of 5766.
Waiting at main stage of City walk, home to one of the world's most famous intersections of entertainment, music and nightlife for countless thousands, was Rabbi Pinny Andrusier, Rabbi Sholom Dubov, and Rabbi Abraham Korf, the day's chief organizer, Chabad representative to Orlando, and Florida's regional Chabad director, respectively.
Set against a backdrop of a 100 foot image of everyone's shirts and a sound system that made the neighboring Hard Rock Café, City Jazz, and all the hundreds of security personnel dancing in their places, Israel's hottest music stars Gad Elbaz, Benny Elbaz and Yehuda Glantz gave a whole new meaning to the words, "rock and roll."
For hours, tens of thousands rocked and rolled with the Menorah's
inextinguishable flames. Thousands of packets containing ready to use tin Menorahs and candles were distributed. Shabbat candle packets were given for free to many hundreds of Jewish women and girls, from throughout the world, who chanced upon this awesome Judaic experience.
It is hard to imagine back over 20 centuries ago when Mattisyahu and his brave Maccabees overtook the great armies of the Greeks and the then violated Holy Temple. Then, as now, the integral Chanukah lesson and the one celebrated through the holiday's centerpiece, the Menorah, is all about bringing our people back from the brink of assimilation. In Mattisyahu's era it was the tantalizing influence of the sophisticated Greek culture. 2200 years later, the battle continues and the unsung Maccabees of today are the Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries who have erected this year alone, close to 12,000 Public Menorahs throughout the world.
These public Menorah lightings draw crowds ranging from 50,000 to 50. The lighting of these Menorahs is, though, just a means to an end. As the young lady from Virginia who came running and crying to one of the Chabad Rabbis in Universal; "I can't believe what I'm seeing, please give me shirts for my whole family, menorahs, Shabbat candles, whatever you have, if this can be happening, and G‑d sent me here to see it, it's time for me and my family to wake up and be a part of our true family and heritage."
It is certainly not only the candles of the respective 12,000 menorahs, but more importantly the innumerable souls, who are warmed by the sight of Jewish pride, unbridled joy and an unwavering and unending commitment to our faith.
In an era when the US postal service prints a Chanukah stamp, when The President of The United States welcomes hundreds of Jews into his White House for a Chanukah reception only after the first lady calls on Chabad to fully Kosher the White House Kitchen, when Homeland Security Chief Michael Chernoff personally lights the Menorah for the world's safety on the White House's Esplanade,
when President Vladmir Putin comes personally to light the Menorah in the same Red Square where he lead the feared KGB a short decade ago, can we say that Mattisyahu's victory is going forward and the miracles of those times are being revisited stronger and mightier than ever before.
History is undeniably being rewritten by the clarion vision of The
Lubavitcher Rebbe and his 4000 centers of pure light throughout the world, 137 Chabad-Lubavitch centers in the State of Florida alone. Chanukah brings thousands of Chabad Rabbis to international landmarks, governor's mansions, world leader's offices, huge malls, Israeli army bases, open air concerts, hospitals, nursing homes and even the Jewish incarcerated. Now, Universal Studios can be added to the growing list.
Pieced together, each is a major step forward in the unstoppable march onward, onto victory. 2200 years ago it began, but the same energy of the same miracles, perhaps, today is at its strongest.
Just as in those days it was one cruise of inviolable pure oil which lit up the world, so too the march is towards the ultimate victory, the rekindling of the original Menorah, in the rebuilt and glorious Jerusalem. G‑d's light will then reign in the world alone and overpower and outshine any darkness and evil that is rearing its ugliest of heads, in its last-ditch panicking efforts, grabbing at straws which will obviously be destroyed by the eternal Menorah, Universal Freedom for all.
Universal Chanukah 5766 it was, and Universal Freedom 5766, it will be.
