NEWS
Community
L’Hodos U’LeHallel By Dr. Chaim Wakslak
51 The Jewish Home n
Around the
LOCAL
D e c e m b e r 1 2 , 2013
Michoel Pruzansky singing together with HASC Center participants
The theme of Chanukah is to express our gratitude to Hashem for the miracle of Chanukah and to generalize this feeling of appreciation to all the “miracles” that constitute our lives. This sentiMenorah lighting and singing Maoz Tzur ment of appreciation was highly palpable on the night of lives of so many who would otherwise be “Zos Chanukah” when the annual HASC neglected and dismissed from the festivCenter “Chanukah mesiba” took place in ities of Chanukah. Instead light has been the heart of Flatbush. brought to places where darkness existed In some respects it was no different and the potential of one day’s oil lasting than the hundreds of mesibos that took for eight days is a reality that can been place throughout Chanukah in shuls, seen through the realization of the pobatei medrashim, yeshivos and family tential which exists within each special gatherings. There were the traditional needs child. culinary delights, a d’var Torah delivered Following in the theme of gratitude, by the manhig ruchani of HASC Center, the beautiful event was immeasurably Rabbi Mendy Salgo, singing, dancing enhanced by the Mitzvah Men Team who and a featured singing performance by came to the chagigah and distributed exMichoel Pruzansky. ceptional gifts which included scarves On the other hand, it was extraordi- and necklaces for the women and watchnary and truly elicited an expression of es for the men. However, they did not Tov LeHodos LaShem. What one wit- simply distribute the gifts but actively nessed was several hundred individuals participated in the dancing and greatly some with developmental disabilities, enhanced the ruach. others with physical handicaps and yet We are told that those who are meothers on the autism spectrum all joined ticulous in their lighting of the Shabbos together with administrators, managers, and Chanukah candles will have children coordinators and counselors in a tradi- who are skilled in their Torah erudition. tional, uncompromised completed in- Any parent of the individuals who attegrated and normalized celebration of tended the HASC Center Chanukah meChanukah. siba would be overjoyed and give gratiUpon deeper introspection, the rea- tude to Hashem for the accomplishments son for gratitude can attributed to the of their children and simchas ha’chaim exceptional programs and facilities that they exhibited at this event. have clearly enhanced and advanced the
Hudson Valley National Foundation presenting a donation to Hatzalah of the Rockaways and Nassau County in appreciation of their efforts during Hurricane Sandy. Pictured here: Lynn Bagliebter, SVP of HVB; Rabbi Elozer Kanner, Hatzalah Coordinator; Israel Melnicke, Paramedic
Mesivta Yam Hatorah’s Chanuka Mesibah
This past week, Mesivta Yam Hatorah had their annual Chanukah mesibah. The event began with a powerful speech from the Menahel Rabbi Eli Zoldan. He spoke about how the dedication and commitment to Torah that was exhibited during the times of Chanukah, specifically in regards to the story of Chana and her seven sons, must serve as inspiration to us through the ages. Following the speech, the students tested their skills in the dreidel contest. After the dust settled and Chezky Steiner was declared the winner in the upside dreidel contest, the students then enjoyed a beautiful lunch with inspiring
divrei Torah and dancing. The highlight of the program was the award ceremony for those students who excelled in their studies in the first quarter. Students who averaged a 90 or above for either limudei kodesh or secular studies received a special award recognizing their accomplishments. The Chanukah mesibah came to a close as each shiur presented a song they composed regarding Chanukah at the “Shiur against Shiur” song competition. Deciding a winner was very difficult, but in the end it was Rabbi Pollak’s shiur who came out on top and won the lunch out to Carlos and Gabby’s.