Keeping Jewish - Chanukah 2023

Tradition, Inspiration and Celebration · December 2023 - Tevet 5784 · Published by Chabad Tucson

Who are your heroes Education and values amidst the conflict zones

Welcome to town Ellen Bernstein’s final move and adjusting to the dry air

Sfenj away The crispy Morrocan donut made with scotch or bourbon

Statesman and target Henry Kissinger shaped U.S. policy for decades

Home for

Chanukah Hostages released from Gaza captivity begin a life-time of healing and recovery

Happy Chanukah: How to celebrate the holiday, where, and 6 gifts nobody wants Keeping Jewish | December 2023 |

OPINION The Jewish outreach and education network of Southern Arizona 2443 E 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719

Who are Your Heroes?

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

Rabbi Yossie Shemtov REBBETZIN

Chanie Shemtov OUTREACH DIRECTOR

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Feigie Ceitlin Affiliates: Congregation Young Israel, Chabad at the University of Arizona, Chabad on River, Chabad of Oro Valley, Chabad of Sierra Vista, Chabad of Vail and Lamplighter Chabad Day School of Tucson

EDITOR

There was a video recently shared on social media showing a kindergarten graduation in a Hamas-run school in Gaza. In the clip, six-year-olds clad in camouflage outfits launched mock mortars and fired toy rifles.

They then “captured” other kids standing in for Jews.

intention and passion for Judaism. But we stood up for our faith, our right to worship our G-d, and freedom of religion. We waged war with those who would deny us our traditions and beliefs, and miraculously, we won.

But Chanukah was never supposed to be a celebration of our military heroes.

In the 4th grade class in the al-Shati refugee camp, an educational project created by students showed pictures of Osama bin Laden, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Imad Akel, and Abed al-Aziz Rantisi—men who are collectively responsible for the killings of thousands of people.

Had just the military victory been celebrated, the lesson of the holiday would have been the Festival of the Fittest, the celebration of might. Instead, when they taught us the laws and customs of Chanukah, the rabbis focused on the self-sacrifice of those who gave their lives rather than give up their religion, on the miracles of the unlikely victory—and the miracle of the oil, enabling the kindling of the Menorah as a sign of hope and faith.

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin COPY EDITOR

Suzanne Cummins CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Zalman Abraham, Seymour Brody, Feigie Ceitlin, Mendel Kalmenson, Menachem Posner, Mordechai Schmutter, Benjamin Weiss PHOTOS

Cover Photo: Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel SPECIAL THANKS

Chabad.org

Once the Israel-Gaza war is over, once the terror regime is toppled, how will the Gaza City population conduct themselves?

Will they be ruled by and drawn to selfdestructive radicalism once more? Will they pick as heroes people who senselessly murder with no achievable goal in sight?

If the answer is to be no, then the work needs to begin in their classrooms.

the Syrian Greeks rather than appointing a leader from the Divinely-ordained kingly tribe of Judah.

Warren Buffet once said, “Tell me who your heroes are, and I’ll tell you how you’ll turn out to be.” Sadly and unfortunately, October But there is another, perhaps more 7 showed us how people whose heroes are meaningful reason, one which is also Keeping Jewish is published in print periodically by Chabad terrorists can turn out to be. alluded to in the name of the holiday itself.

Tucson and is distributed free in Tucson and around Southern Chanukah is rooted in the Hebrew word Arizona.

We look to the story of Chanukah, a holiday Chinuch—education.

Chabad Tucson does not endorse the people, establishments, that provides a different approach from products or services reported about or advertised in Keeping what the students are being taught in The battle wasn’t about territory but about Jewish unless specifically noted. The acceptance of adverti- Gaza. purity: the identity and integrity of the sing in Keeping Jewish does not constitute a recommendation, minds of the Jewish community. Religious approval, or other representation of the quality of products or When the Mishna retells the account, the observance was outlawed, specifically the services, or the credibility of any claims made by advertisers, Maccabees of the Hasmonean family are observances that are at the root of our including, but not limited to, the kashrus of advertised food not even mentioned.

Some opinions say identity as a unique nation. The Syrian products. The use of any products or services advertised in Greeks sought to forcibly assimilate the Keeping Jewish is solely at the user’s risk and Chabad Tucson this was a form of censure. The Maccabees started as a brave band of guerilla Jews to create a nation that would act just accepts no responsibility or liability in connection therewith. fighters, temporarily stepping away from like them, following their Hellenic ways.

Note: “G-d” and “L-rd” are written with a hyphen instead of an their priestly service for the battlefield “o .”This is one way we accord reverence to the sacred divine in a crisis. But then they held onto their The Jewish People could have lived in name. This also reminds us that, even as we seek G-d, He political power following their victory over peace so long as they were devoid of faithful EDITORIAL INQUIRIES OR ADVERTISING

Phone: 520-881-7956 Email: info@ChabadTucson.com

transcends any human effort to describe His reality.

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Yes, sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in. And we appreciate our defenders and their sacrifice. Yet what we celebrate isn’t the devastation they’ve caused but the way of life that was protected. Our classroom heroes are the scholars, the inventors, the charitable, and the kind. We look up to them because we hope to be them one day.

Here’s one hero to consider: Adina Moshe, 72, who was taken hostage by Hamas when they raided her Kibbutz, Nir Oz, on October 7. When she was notified that she was being released on November 24 as part of a cease-fire agreement, she wasn’t thrilled.

“Wait, there’s a problem,” she told the terrorists. “There’s a woman older than me and in poorer health. She should go first.”

Who are your heroes?

- Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin is the Outreach Director of Chabad Tucson, the Jewish network of Southern Arizona

NEWS

Chanukah events to light up Southern Arizona Special prayers will be recited for Israel

By Benjamin Weiss Chabad centers across Southern Arizona are gearing up for a series of exciting Chanukah events and community celebrations. These events will include the lighting of large menorahs at various public locations throughout the eight-day holiday.

Tucsonans and visitors can celebrate the 40th annual lighting of Tucson’s tallest Menorah at the “Chanukah @ Downtown Tucson” event on Thursday, December 7, at 5:00 PM. There will be music, refreshments and a kosher pizza truck. This tradition was started by Rabbi Yossie Shemtov, Executive Director of Chabad Tucson, in 1983.

Another big event will be the Northwest Chanukah Festival organized by Chabad Oro Valley on Sunday, December 10, at 3:00 PM at the Oro Valley Marketplace.

There will be a gelt drop, various activities and a Jewish art exhibit.

war. Chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) will be recited for the injured, the hostages and those fighting to defend the nation.

A special initiative will be the “1200 for 1200” campaign. Chabad will distribute 1,200 free Menorah kits over the holiday in memory of the number of people killed during the October 7 massacre in southern Israel. Each kit will include a Menorah, a box of colorful candles, the text of the blessings and a dreidel to play with. “We respond to hate with light and love,” stated Rabbi Shemtov.

In the spirit of spreading the holiday joy, Chabad rabbis and volunteers will be visiting and leading celebrations at retirement and assisted living communities, as well as schools, hospitals and prisons.

The following events are open to the public and free of charge:

This year’s celebrations will include special prayers in merit of the people of the land of Israel who are in the midst of

Northwest residents enjoy breakfast and conversations on Thanksgiving day at Chabad of Oro Valley on Thursday, November 23.

Thursday, December 7 4:30 PM - Sierra Vista Veterans Memorial Park: Public Menorah lighting with latkes, donuts and music 5:00 PM - Outside City Hall in Downtown Tucson: Annual lighting of Tucson’s tallest Chanukah Menorah with music, latkes, donuts and Kosher pizza truck.

4:30 PM - Grassy Park by Copper Queen, Bisbee: Public Menorah lighting with latkes, donuts and music 5:00 PM - Purple Heart Park: Vail Chanukah Celebration with Menorah lighting, gelt drop, music, raffle, latkes and donuts.

Saturday, December 9

5:00 PM - Tubac Presidio State Historic Park: Menorah lighting with singing, stories and and refreshments.

8:00 PM - The Shul of Tucson: Family Chanukah Game Night with food, board games and fun for singles of all ages and families with children.

5:00 PM - Chabad on River - Chanukah party Monday, December 11

5:00 PM - SaddleBrooke HOA #1: Menorah lighting and joyous ceremony celebrating Chanukah.

4:30 PM - Benson Visitors Center - Public Menorah lighting with latkes, donuts and music.

Sunday, December 10 Wednesday, December 13 3:00 PM - Oro Valley Marketplace: Northwest Chanukah Festival with Menorah lighting, gelt drop, interactive activities, latkes and donuts, art exhibit.

Students wear new tshirts at the conclusion of a Sinai Scholars course with Rabbi Shmulie Shanowitz at Chabad at the University of Arizona.

4:30 PM - Main Post Chapel, Fort Huachuca: Public Menorah lighting with latkes, donuts and music

First Jewish women’s event at Chabad of Vail, Arizona on Sunday, November 26. Rebbetzin Chavie Shemtov led participants in creating beautiful-looking menorahs.

Keeping Jewish | December 2023 |

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Oriyah Brodetz, 4, hugs his father after being released from Gaza * Photo: Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel

ISRAEL nationals. Ten hostages from Thailand and one from the Philippines were released as part of separate agreements with Hamas negotiated by their respective governments.

Delicate repatriation The repatriation of the deeply traumatized hostages has been a delicate operation that involves a network of government and social-welfare agencies that has been assembled over the past month, with a major objective being the protection and privacy of the hostages and their families as they recover.

Six leading medical centers staffed by the nation’s top professional caregivers have been receiving the hostages. Sheba Medical Center and Soroka Medical Center has treated hostages who have come with severe injuries. Schneider Medical Center is focusing on children in need of physical and psychological care, while Wolfson Medical Center is treating victims of assault.

First Israeli hostages freed from Gaza Many more remain as treatment of traumatized terror victims continues

By Yaakov Ort & Benjamin Weiss As of Wednesday, November 29th, 74 Israeli women and children kidnapped by Hamas were released as part of an extended deal agreed upon by Israel with the terror organization. A 75th hostage, an Israeli with dual Russian citizenship, was released in a separate deal. An estimated 149 hostages, including nine Jewish children, remain in captivity.

Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza massacred more than 1,200 people, wounded thousands on Oct. 7, and 4

| December 2023 | Keeping Jewish

kidnapped as many as 240 people from Israel, including some 40 children, as well as seniors. Since then, at least two hostages were slain in captivity, four were released, and one was rescued.

Israel’s cabinet reluctantly approved a costly deal: they paused the military campaign against Gaza’s terror groups and agreed to exchange three Palestinian prisoners for each released hostage from Gaza. Past exchanges saw former prisoners return to terror activities. Though Israel

is not releasing known terrorists into Hamas’s hands at this point, the women and children being released still can pose a threat to Israel’s security. In addition, Israel is allowing significant amounts of fuel and food into the Gaza Strip, with hopes that these will not be diverted from their humanitarian purpose, and end up in the hands of the terrorists.

During their anti-Jewish murder spree, Hamas likewise killed and kidnapped Israeli Arabs and dozens of foreign

Prayers and good deeds for the safe return of the hostages, the welfare of Israel Defense Forces troops, and the Land of Israel at large, as well as wisdom, strength and faith for Israel’s leadership continue to take place night and day around the world.

Congregations in Tucson observed “Israel Solidarity Shabbat” on Dec. 1-2, displaying “reserved” signs with hostages’ photos. Yuval Malka, an organizer, had to update the signs due to recent positive developments. She expressed hope for more good news ahead.

“I’m relieved and grateful that some hostages are returning home, including 4-year-old Israeli-American Abigail Edan,” said U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, who recently visited Israel. “I thank the Biden administration for their work to get to this point. I’ll continue to partner with them as we work to support our ally Israel, free the remaining hostages, and get much-needed humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.”

Names of released hostages Released on Friday, Nov. 24: Yafa Adar, 85, of Nir Oz Margalit Moses, 77, of Nir Oz Hana Katzir, 76, of Nir Oz

Adina Moshe, 72, of Nir Oz Daniel Aloni, 45; and Emilia Aloni, 5 Doron Katz Asher, 34; Raz Asher, 4; and Aviv Asher, 2, of Nir Oz Channa Peri, 79, of Nirim Ruth Munder, 78; Karen Munder, 54; and Ohad Munder, 9, of Nir Oz Released on Saturday, Nov. 25: Emily Hand, 9, of Be’eri Hila Rotem, 13, of Be’eri Maya Regev, 21, of Herzliya Noam Or, 17; and Alma Or, 13, of Be’eri Shiri Weiss, 53; and Noga Weiss, 18, of Be’eri Sharon Avigdori, 52; and Noam Avigdori, 12 of Hod HaSharon Shoshan Haran, 67, of Be’eri Adi Shoham, 38; Yahel Shoham, 3; and Naveh Shoham, 8, of Ma’ale Tzivia Released on Sunday, Nov. 26: Abigail Idan, 4, of Kfar Aza Ella Elyakim, 8, of Nachal Oz Dafna Elyakim, 15, of Nachal Oz Hagar Brodetz Ama, 40, of Kfar Aza Ofri Brodetz, 10, of Kfar Aza Yuval Brodetz, 8, of Kfar Aza Oriya Brodetz, 4, of Kfar Aza Chen Goldstein, 48, of Kfar Aza Agam Goldstein, 17, of Kfar Aza Tal Goldstein, 9, of Kfar Aza Gal Goldstein, 11, of Kfar Aza Alma Avraham, 84, of Nachal Oz Adrian Aviva Siegel, 63, of Kfar Aza Released on Monday, Nov. 27: Sharon Aloni Konio, 34, Yuly Konio, 3, Ema Konio, 3, of Nir Oz Or Yaakov, 17, Yagil Yaakov, 13, of Nir Oz Sahar Kalderon, 16, Erez Kalderson, 12, of Nir Oz Carina Engel-Bert, 51, Mika Engel, 18, Yuval Engel, 11, of Nir Oz Eitan Yahalomi, 12, of Nir Oz Released on Tuesday, Nov. 28: Adi Sagi, 75, of Nir Oz Tamar Metzger, 78, of Nir Oz Ditza Haiman, 84, of Nir Oz Norallin Babadilla Agojo, 60, of Yehud Rimon Kirsht Buchshtav, 36, of Nirim Ofelia Roitman, 77, of Nir Oz Meirav Tal, 54, of Rishon Letzion Gabriella Leimberg, 51, and Maya Leimberg, 17 of Jerusalem

Tefillin waited while boy was held in Gaza

By Menachem Posner Until October 7, Yagil Yaakov was a regular 12-year-old Jewish kid, looking forward to his bar mitzvah with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

Then, on Simchat Torah, he was taken prisoner by Hamas, together with his brother Or, and his father, Yair, from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. In the haze that followed the violence, the owner of the Judaica store noticed the custom tefillin bag ordered by a family in Nir Oz, which had been ravaged by the terrorists. He decided to call Yagil’s mom, Ranana, to see how the family was holding up.

To his shock and dismay, he learned that Yagil had been taken hostage. He immediately offered to refund the order, feeling terrible that the mother paid for the tefillin, and now who knew how long it would be until she could hand them to her beloved son.

“No, don’t give me the money,” Ranana said resolutely. “Yagil will come home, and there will be a giant celebration, with G-d’s help.”

On November 9, Yagil appeared in a hostage video released by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another terrorist group based in Gaza. He looked harrowed, but he was alive.

On November 27, he was released back to Israel, back to his mother, back to his tefillin and his bar mitzvah.

Now, Yagil eagerly awaits for his father to be released as well and attend the bar mitzvah celebration.

Keeping Jewish | December 2023 |

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JUDAISM 101

A celebration of light

Observances for the holiday of Chanukah, December 7-15, 2023 Chanukah (or Hanukkah) is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with nightly menorah lightings, fried foods (like donuts), and the giving of gifts.

Chanukah is the only Jewish holiday not mentioned in Scripture, so it is minor compared to the High Holidays and other festivals. Yet, its observance is a mitzvah and its message of good over evil is of major significance.

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It celebrates two miracles that happened in Judea in 139 BCE: 1) The Jewish Maccabees beat the SyrianGreek invaders and took back the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and: 2) A small jar of oil that would ordinarily have burned only for one day, instead burned for 8 continuous days in the Temple menorah.

Chanukah means “inauguration,” and it refers to the fact that the Temple altar was rededicated by the

Maccabees after they expelled the idolworshiping Greeks who had occupied the complex.

Led by Matityahu, the High Priest, and his son Judah Maccabee, the Jewish freedom fighters who beat the Syrian Greeks and restored Jewish sovereignty in Judea are known as the Maccabees.

The first night of Chanukah 2023 starts at nightfall on Thursday,

December 7, 2023, which is when the first candle is lit. The final candles are lit on Thursday evening, December 14, and the holiday concludes the following day, December 15.

The holiday lasts for 8 days since it took 8 days to bring fresh olive oil from Tekoa to Jerusalem, and for that entire time the oil in the menorah miraculously burned. According to Kabbalah, 8 symbolizes the miraculous, above 7, which represents

JUDAISM 101 the natural cycle.

Holiday observances Chanukah is celebrated with nightly lighting of the menorah, added liturgy and Psalms, oily food treats such as doughnuts and potato or cheese pancakes, and giving cash gifts (gelt).

The menorah is lit around (or after) nightfall on each of the 8 nights of Chanukah, taking care to light before Shabbat begins on Fridays, and after Shabbat ends on Saturdays.

We add a new candle each night, starting with the flame on the far right: one on the first night, two on the second, etc. The candles are kindled from left to right, always starting with the newest candle.

The Chanukah lights should be real flames fueled by wax or oil— like the flames in the Holy Temple Menorah. Any color candle is perfectly acceptable. The popularity of blue and white is likely due to the fact that those are the colors of the state of Israel. Electric is fine for display purposes, as long as a real menorah is lit as well.

ah‑doh‑noi eh‑loh‑hay‑noo meh‑lekh hah‑oh‑lahm ah‑sher ki‑deh‑shah‑noo beh‑mitz‑voh‑tahv veh‑tzee‑vah‑noo leh‑hahd‑lik nayr kha‑noo‑kah 2. Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

Transliteration: Bah‑rookh ah‑tah ah‑ doh‑noi eh‑loh‑hay‑noo meh‑lekh hah‑ oh‑lahm sheh‑ah‑sah nee‑sim lah‑ah‑ voh‑tay‑noo bah‑yah‑mim hah‑haym biz‑mahn hah‑zeh 3. Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.)

Transliteration: (When lighting for the first time this year: Bah-rookh ah-tah ah‑doh‑noi eh‑loh‑hay‑noo meh‑lekh hah‑oh‑lahm sheh‑heh‑kheh‑yah‑noo veh‑kee‑mah‑noo ve‑hig‑ee‑yah‑noo liz‑ mahn hah‑zeh) Classic songs include Maoz Tzur (“Rock of the Ages”) and Haneirot Halalu (“These Lights”), hymns sung after lighting the menorah. Newer additions include Dreidel Dreidel and Oh, Chanukah.

On Chanukah, V’al Hanisim (“And

for the Miracles”) is inserted in the Amidah and Grace after Meals. Hallel (Psalms of praise) and Torah reading are added to morning services, and blessings are said before lighting the menorah.

Foods, games & gifts Since oil reminds us of the miracle of the oil lamps burning for 8 days straight, potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly donuts (sufganiyot) are common favorites. The tradition of eating dairy on Chanukah comes from the stories of a Jewish heroine named Judith, who is said to have used cheese to entice and then slay the occupying Assyrian general.

It is not a mitzvah to give gifts on Chanukah. However, there is a longstanding custom to give cash (“gelt”) on Chanukah, especially as a reward for Torah study. The foil‑wrapped chocolate coins were introduced by enterprising American candy makers.

One of the popular activities during the holiday is to play dreidel, Yiddish for “spinning top.” The driedle, (known as a sevivon in Hebrew), is a four-sided top, with each side emblazoned with

a different Hebrew letter. The letters are nun, gimmel, hey and shin. These letters form an acronym for the phrase “nes gadol hayah sham” which means “a great miracle happened there.”

Here are some rules of the game (although full disclosure: different families often have different rules): Tokens are given to each player and to a general pot. Then everyone takes turns spinning the dreidel. When the dreidel lands on nun, the spinner does nothing. When it lands on gimmel, the spinner takes the entire pot (which everyone then replenishes). When it lands on hey, the spinner gives half of his or her tokens to the pot. When it lands on shin, the spinner must give all his or her tokens to the pot and is temporarily out of the game.

Work may be performed on Chanukah, as it is a rabbinic (not Biblical) holiday.

However, there is a longstanding custom for women to refrain from working while the Chanukah flames burn.

The most common Chanukah greeting is “Happy Chanukah” in English or “Chanukah sa-may-akh” in Hebrew.

The ninth candle is known as the shamash, which means “servant” or “use.” It is used to light the rest of the candles and then remains burning, so that if we need to use the candlelight, we use the light from the shamash and not the sacred menorah light.

e The following two (or three) blessings are (prayers) are said while holding the shamash, immediately before the menorah is lit, saying the third blessing only on the first night or the first time lighting this Chanukah

1. Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King at of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light. nts Transliteration: Bah‑rookh ah‑tah Keeping Jewish | December 2023 |

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LOCAL were in the basement, and we would be busy going up and down as the whole house was being turned around. The whole family got together for the Seders - the first in our house, the second by my grandparents.

It was joyous, and I loved the history, the story, the food, and the singing. My uncles would compete over who could sing Chad Gadya quicker.

Historical Jewish figure: Golda Meir. She was a woman, and she was strong. Recently, I’ve been seeing beautiful quotes in her name.

Jewish app on phone: Chabad’s Shabbat Times app.

Currently reading: I just signed up for a course about the story behind Chanukah, and I’ve been following the “Yiddish word of the day.”

Go-to Hebrew or Yiddish word: Shmutz (dirt or dust) - there’s a lot of it, as I’m trying to clean my house. I’m also using oy vay (on no) a lot.

Comfort food: My mother’s chicken fricassee with meatballs, my brisket, and chicken soup with matzo balls.

Kvell: When they released hostages from Gaza.

It’s not enough, but it’s a start.

Welcome to town:

Ellen Bernstein

Chabad: I’m not Chabad, but I love Chabad’s openness and acceptance of me and who I am. I saw that by Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz at Chabad in Fort Myers.

By Benjamin Weiss A little about yourself: I grew up in New London, Connecticut. I did my undergraduate degree in social work at Southern Connecticut State University. I got my master’s in counseling for deaf people at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, where I later worked for 6 years.

worked for 15 years in the corporate offices of UPS (United Parcel Service). When my aunt was left living alone in Fort Meyers, Florida, I moved to be near her and worked in a call center in the medical field and then as an Executive Administrative Assistant at DLS Construction.

I then moved with friends to Seattle, Washington, and

Moving to Tucson: I just turned 70 and retired, so

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I moved to Tucson to be near my sister. I have moved before, but this was an overwhelming experience and a permanent one. I’m loving the fact there is no humidity, and I’m also adjusting to the dry air. I love the sunshine and the mountains.

Cherished Jewish memory: When my zayde (grandfather) died, my bubbe (grandmother)

was sitting Shiva in my house.

She sat on a box near the front door. The grandchildren would go for a walk outside so we wouldn’t be too noisy. As we walked out, each of us would stop by her and give her a kiss.

When we returned, we did the same. My bubbe commented, “I think I’m a Mezuzah!”

Favorite Jewish holiday: Passover. My mother’s dishes

Happiness: Feeling well and enjoying every day. I begin my day with the Modeh Ani prayer.

Claim to fame: My chopped liver.

Looking forward to: Meeting more people and building a circle of friends here.

KOSHER

The Moroccan sfenj donut

By Feigie Ceitlin Isn’t Chanukah all about those jelly-filled or chocolate-coated donuts we eagerly indulge in? Still, this year, for those who are willing to switch things up a bit consider the sfinj – the Moroccan donut that doesn’t care about being pictureperfect or loaded with extras. Just by itself, the sfinj is incredibly fulfilling.

Picture this: a crispy outer shell giving way to a pillowy soft inside, no fancy toppings or fillings, just pure, simple delight made with a touch of scotch or bourbon. It’s like embracing a new tradition that is uniquely satisfying.

Ingredients: 6 cups flour 2 tbsp yeast 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp salt 1/2 cup oil 1 egg 2-3 tablespoons Scotch or bourbon 4 cups water Directions: 1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. In your mixer, add the rest of the ingredients. Mix until combined. Add the water and yeast mixture once it proofs.

Mix the dough until all the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. The dough should

be too sticky to knead or shape.

2. Cover the bowl, and leave the dough to rise for one to two hours, until double or triple in bulk. In a wide pot, heat at least an inch of vegetable oil until hot.

3. Fill another bowl with water and set it to the side. You should have three bowls ready—one with your dough, one with water, and a third with sugar.

4. Cover a large plate with a paper towel or a towel. To begin, dip your hand in the water and pull off a piece of dough about the size of a plum.

5. Using your fingers, make a hole in the dough and stretch into a ring (think of a bagel).

6. Place into the oil. Repeat with the remaining dough.

7. Depending on the size, you may only be able to do 2 or 3 at a time (try not to crowd the pan). Fry them until golden brown, flipping a few times to ensure both sides are cooked well.

8. Remove from oil and set on a plate to drain.

Photo: MacroMama.com

9. Once the extra oil has been absorbed, roll them in the sugar mixture before they cool off and then serve!

The blessing: Mezonot

B’tayavon!

10. They are great to be eaten as is. If you wish, dip them in melted chocolate or even honey as they do in Moroccan families.

Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei minei mezonot.

— Rebbetzin Feigie Ceitlin is the program director of Chabad Tucson and head of school of Lamplighter Chabad Day School.

*

Blessed are you L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who creates various kinds of sustenance.

Keeping Jewish | December 2023 |

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HEBREW

Tzedakah Philanthropy and doing the right thing

Photo: JW/Unsplash

Jews don’t believe in giving charity; they believe in doing the right thing.

There are two radically different perspectives on wealth that provide the basis for charitable giving. In the first, whether a person inherited their wealth or earned it through hard work, it is rightfully theirs. If they freely choose to give of their wealth to those in need, it is a praiseworthy and unexpected act of generosity. In this view, there is absolutely nothing wrong with some people having

10 | December 2023 | Keeping Jewish

By Mendel Kalmenson and Zalman Abraham

more, even much more, than others.

Wealth disparity is seen as a natural consequence of various factors, such as individual effort, education, talent, life circumstances, or luck. The goal in such a worldview is to amass as much wealth as one desires, and ideally, this opportunity is freely available to all who seek it.

The second perspective contends that the unequal distribution of wealth in society is a calamity that needs to be rectified.

Those who possess more than their fair

share must share their wealth with the less fortunate. If they do not, they are guilty of perpetuating an injustice. From this perspective, the accumulation of wealth by any individual at the expense of the collective is considered a crime.

Following this line of thought to its logical conclusion essentially leads to some form of state-sponsored socialism or increasingly restrictive measures like earning caps to enforce an oppressively equitable socioeconomic model.

The Jewish notion of tzedakah, often incorrectly translated as charity, rejects both of these views, choosing instead to combine elements of both. Unlike charity, a term derived from the Latin word carus, meaning to be kind and endearing, tzedakah comes from the word tzedek, meaning justice—something, according to the Torah, that we are obligated to pursue.

Indeed, according to author Paul Vallely, who spent six years researching the history of Western philanthropy, from the ancient Greeks and Hebrews to modern times,

culminating in a book titled Philanthropy: from Aristotle to Zuckerberg: “For the Greeks and Romans, philanthrôpía was always a voluntary [and even self-serving] activity among the elite; by contrast, tzedakah is a religious obligation that falls, proportionally, on both the rich and those with smaller incomes.”

However, rather than being externally enforced by the government or some other entity, tzedakah is a values-based responsibility stemming from within. The specific ways in which we perform this act are entirely up to us; how much, when, where, why, and to whom we give—these details are left in our hands and hearts to decide.

invest purposefully where and when the need arises.

From this perspective, there is no reason for the recipient of tzedakah to feel ashamed or undignified. On the contrary, it is they who enable the giver to partner with G-d in completing creation! As our Sages teach: “More than the rich man does for the pauper, the pauper does for the rich man.” This is a total inversion of the way we normally view the power dynamics between rich and poor, and a redefinition of who is really giving to whom. of society’s Divine design and was thus intended to remain that way, unaltered.

Ultimately, the giving of tzedakah is rooted in the organismic understanding that when there is a need expressed within the greater structure of which we are a part and we have the means to fill it, it is our sacred duty to do so. Tzedakah is, therefore, the socio-spiritual mechanism whereby each part bears responsibility for the well-being of the whole.

Thankfully, we have come a long way since then. The number of nonprofits, volunteer organizations, and food banks is living proof of this. In today’s society, it is common for us to view ourselves as duty-bound to care for the welfare of every person, especially those less fortunate. This is much to the credit of the Jewish view being adopted into the mainstream and shaping the way we think about our social responsibilities today.

In Roman times, the notion of caring for the poor was not widely held. For instance, the Talmud tells of the Roman consul Turnus Rufus, who questioned Rabbi Akiva about Judaism’s obligation to provide for the poor: “If your G-d loves the poor, why does He not support them Himself?” In Roman thought, the division between wealth classes was understood to be an essential, even providential, part

In contrast to the ancient Roman view, Judaism insists that if we see a person in need, it is because we have been given the opportunity to help them, and we are therefore obliged to do so. In fact, the Hebrew words for pauper, ani, and poverty, aniyut, are both derived from the root laanot, meaning to respond. This highlights that poverty is meant to elicit a response from those who have the means to give.

Need, lack, disadvantage, and oppression are all G‑d’s invitations to us to fulfill our obligation to pursue justice through acts of tzedakah.

Rooted in a religiously ordained concept of social justice, the word tzedakah reminds us not to be overtaken by feelings of magnanimity and hubris as a result of our charitable deeds. Instead, giving tzedakah should elicit humility and appreciation for the blessing and opportunity to serve as G-d’s trusted allocators on earth. As Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher writes in Arbaah Turim, “[Whatever] wealth [you have] is not yours; it is merely a deposit given on condition that you use it as the Depositor desires, by giving a portion of it to the poor.” In other words, we don’t have what we have because it is ours—in some way owed to us—but because G-d has entrusted it to us to distribute where it is most needed. The wealth we possess is a deposit from G-d that we are given for temporary safekeeping; it is earmarked for us to

From a Torah perspective, the reason that there is a wealth disparity in the first place is for people to choose to right this wrong.

If they would be forced or coerced into it, they would not learn the vital lesson the Torah seeks to impart, which is that we each bear responsibility for the greater, interconnected whole of society. Yes, tzedakah is a mitzvah, but ultimately, G-d does not want us to care for the poor just because we have to; rather, He wants us to do it because we truly believe it is the right thing to do.

The Big Idea: We don’t help people in need because it’s a nice thing to do; we do it because it’s the right thing to do.

—An excerpt from People of the Word, by Mendel Kalmenson and Zalman Abraham, exploring 50 key Hebrew words that have been mistranslated and misunderstood for centuries.

Keeping Jewish | December 2023 |

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STORY

Explosive Menorah An unconventional military celebration of the Festival of Lights

By Judah Epstein In late 2022, I was at Nellis Air Force Base in southern Nevada for pre-deployment training. The training occurred during Chanukah, and I organized a menorah lighting at the base chapel, with about 15 people in attendance. But I wanted to do something else. Something big.

As an Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD)

tech, I was in the position to go big.

Before the holiday started, I went to my sergeant and asked if we could celebrate Chanukah in a unique way. Fortunately, he was open to suggestions. I came up with a plan to create a big menorah and light the candles with explosives.

My intention wasn’t to blow up the menorah; the goal was to simply light the candles. But in the EOD world, all things must go bang, so in short order, the idea got co-opted a bit. Thankfully, we got the green light to proceed.

During the week before Chanukah, I built the four-foot-tall, seven-foot wide “menorah” out of pallets, scrap wood, and cardboard and spray-painted it with a big, white menorah. Its nine candle holders were made of old containers that once held different explosives.

A festive demo like this wouldn’t be the same without friends, so we brought five explosive technicians and five others who served as “observers”—four Air Force personnel who were stationed at the base, two of whom were Jewish, plus the local Chabad rabbi, Rabbi Sholom Wilansky.

The whole shindig lasted about three hours—we drove out to the range, set up the demo, and directed the requisite safety briefs. The menorah was ready to go; its inner-city gangsta look contrasted starkly with the clean and silent Nevada desert.

But it wouldn’t be silent for long—the typical Chanukah candles’ wax and wicks had been replaced with a detonation cord and fuel, plus a bit of C-4 for extra effect, and the menorah’s glowing flames would shortly be replaced by a vicious fireball.

Feeling like a Jewish Wile E. Coyote, I and another explosives specialist pulled the igniters for the time fuse cord, which began the six-minute countdown—and then… Bam! All the candles ignited simultaneously for about a second, and, to our great joy, the whole thing blew heavenward with a tremendous explosion.

After the menorah “lighting,” Rabbi Wilansky of Chabad of Aliante/North Las

12 | December 2023 | Keeping Jewish

Vegas put tefillin on the three of us Jews who were present. We all hung around together for a while, enjoying donuts that the rabbi had thoughtfully brought for the group.

It was a special event all around. For the two other Jewish Airmen, it was a really meaningful format to celebrate Chanukah in a military way. They were not explosives techs, so they were not used to playing with explosives, and they relished the experience. I believe it was the rabbi’s first time at Nellis, so it was a special experience for him too. And for the explosives techs who weren’t Jewish, it was exciting to participate in a Jewish holiday.

When I posted the story to social media, the reactions were varied. Some people were intrigued, while others were shocked that we actually blew up the menorah.

(My response to one dour complainant: “The menorah is simply an inert vessel/ container. The light is the symbolism. Nine regular candles produce a summation of ~2.7 million joules of energy per hour, while the explosive candle lighting I organized produced ~142 million joules of energy… all in about only plus or minus one second.”)

Whatever the case, I am certain that Judah Maccabee would have approved of it, but since he’s not around today, I stepped in to speak for him. I feel that I’m in a position to do so, especially because I am a military officer and outdoorsman named Judah. I can, therefore (somewhat) authoritatively state: “Judah Maccabee approves of this menorah lighting.”

--Captain Judah Epstein is an Engineer, Geologist, and Explorer. He serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a Civil Engineering Officer in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).

HISTORY

Henry Alfred Kissinger Statesman and Nobel Peace Prize Winner

By Seymour Brody Henry Alfred Kissinger, the influential and somewhat controversial U.S. Secretary of State who served under Presidents Nixon and Ford, died at the age of 100 years old on November 29, 2023. His was a long and eventful life.

Born on May 23, 1923, in the Bavarian city of Fürth, he was the second son of Paula (Stern) and Louis Kissinger, Jews of German descent. His family immigrated to London in 1938 after Hitler’s rise to power.

They subsequently moved to Washington Heights in New York City, where Kissinger attended high school at night and worked in a shaving brush factory during the day.

While attending City College of New York in 1943, he was drafted into the Army and became a German interpreter for the 970th Counterintelligence Corps.

After his discharge, Kissinger went to Harvard, where he earned his B.A. degree summa cum laude in 1950. He then went on to earn his M.A. and his Ph.D in 1954. He used his doctoral thesis as a basis for his first book, A World Restored: Castlereagh, Metternich and the Problems of Peace (Boston, 1957). In that book, he outlined history as a struggle between revolutionary and conservative forces.

In 1962, Kissinger became a professor at Harvard University, where he wrote a book entitled Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy (New York, 1957). In this book, he took the position that America’s survival and victory depended not only on its

Illustration by Art Seiden

strength but also on its ability to recognize and fight aggression in all of its forms.

It was the publication of this book that established his reputation as a credible scholar on the subject of foreign relations.

When Richard Nixon was elected president in 1968, Kissinger was brought into the administration, later to become Secretary of State, the first Jewish one in U.S. history. During the presidencies of Nixon and Gerald Ford, Kissinger emerged as a powerful figure. He initiated shuttle diplomacy, and played a major role in negotiating the Middle East peace treaty, which effectuated the cessation of hostilities following the Yom Kippur War. He was instrumental in negotiating a Vietnam peace treaty after many years of unpopular fighting. He initiated detente with the Russians and established relations with China.

Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1973. He shared this award with Le Duc Tho, a North Vietnamese peace negotiator. Kissinger has always been the target of political criticism. A shrewd and practical strategist, he had the courage to follow up on what he thought was the best course for America to take. Kissinger’s influence will undoubtedly be studied for many years to come.

- Originally published in Jewish Heroes & Heroines of America: 150 True Stories of American Jewish Heroism (Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.)

Mazel Tov Jim Hill On the purchase of a home.

May you share many Simchas in the years ahead.

Madeline Friedman Vice President, ABR, CRS, GRI

520.907.4141 TucsonHomeFinder@aol.com www.TucsonAZHomes.com Keeping Jewish | December 2023 |

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HUMOR

6 Chanukah gifts nobody wants

By Mordechai Schmutter What do you buy for the person who has everything? Get them something they don’t actually want – something you know that they would never buy for themselves in a million years. Here are some ideas, and it turns out that some of these things are relatively inexpensive! So win-win!

Our first gift, speaking of Chanukah, is a Measuring Tape Belt ($20). This is a belt made out of measuring tape so that you can tell at a glance how big your waist is.

Well, actually, you can’t; your stomach’s in the way. But everyone else can! Worried that you might be getting fat? Now you know for sure! This is an excellent item for when you go to buy pants and have forgotten what size you are. Now, you don’t need to take a trip to the dressing room to find out.

Next idea. If you think the person on your list needs to get more exercise, you can get him a Goldfish Walker. This is like a stroller with a place in it for your goldfish bowl. With this, you can take your goldfish out on walks, and kvell as people keep saying, “Wow, what a cute… Oh?!” At least it gives you a reason to get out of the house on a nice day! Or even when it’s raining the fish don’t care. Maybe not in the winter, though. Either way, this is the perfect gift you can use to tell someone, “You need to get out more. You spend way too much time with your fish.”

How about getting someone you love a Banana Slicer ($6). This is a plastic device, sort of like an apple slicer (where you push it down on the fruit and it makes slices), but it’s shaped like a banana, obviously.

We have so many devices for cutting round fruits, but what about bananas? How are you supposed to cut those? This item is perfect for the person on your list who loves to read the instructions. (“Okay…

STEP 1: Peel banana before use… Oh.”) There are also lots of great things to get parents, such as a Piggyback Helmet

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designed to be worn by a father when he’s giving shoulder rides. Actually, the father does need a helmet; mostly to protect him from drool and lollypops, but that’s not really its prime use. It has a handlebar on top so the kid can steer. There’s also a horn your kids can push, which can be useful when you’re standing in line at the bank.

Plus, the helmet has turn signals, which your kid can use if he doesn’t want to crash into other fathers or people walking their goldfish.

And for the person on your list who has killed too many brain cells giving their kids piggyback rides, there’s also something called a Smart Umbrella. This is an umbrella that costs $125, and before

you say, “I don’t want to pay $125 for an umbrella that I’m just going to leave somewhere,” it actually has a chip that makes your phone beep whenever you get more than 30 feet from it. Unless you put the umbrella in airplane mode. The umbrella also has a feature that tells you the weather. (“It’s raining.” “Thanks. What a smart umbrella.”)

Finally, if you’re looking for a gift for someone who always has his hands full, you can get them a Wineglass Holder Necklace ($25). This is a necklace with a device on the front from which you can suspend your wine glass, thereby freeing up both of your hands to grab more food or move furniture. Or hold your umbrella.

You know how it is. Sometimes you’re at a buffet and you want to hold the plate and the fork and the knife, but what do you do with your glass? You don’t have 4 hands.

In fact, the only issue with this item might be leaving it dangling and forgetting it’s there.

“Where did I put my wine? I just had it.

Oh, there it is. On my shirt.”

I might get to school, and my students would be like, “Mr. Schmutter, why are you wearing a drink?”

You can also put your goldfish in it.

GAME

GAME

Dreidel Crossword Test your knowledge of the history and customs of the Festival of Lights

Across 1. The Maccabees found one _______ of pure olive oil.

3. I like to _______ fried donuts.

5. Fried donuts in Hebrew are called __________.

7. Some people place the Menorah opposite the __________ .

8. Others put their Menorah in the ____________.

10. Yehudis fed the Greek general cheese to make him thirsty. That’s why we eat ___________ foods.

13. The oil they found lasted for _________ days.

14. Chanukah begins on the ________________ day of Kislev.

18. A Jewish warrior was called a _____________________.

19. Mattisyahu was the son of Yochanan ________ Gadol.

21. To remember the miracle we eat food fried in _______.

24. We play _______ the dreidel.

27. We re-tell the story of Chanukah every ___________ .

28. A miracle: They found one jar of pure oil with the ______ of the Kohen Gadol on it.

29. Chanukah comes in the month of ________ .

30. The shamash candle is often made of _______ wax.

Down 2. Money given out on Chanukah is called Chanukah _______.

4. “In those days, at this ________” 5. A beautiful Menorah may be made of _____________.

6. The Greek armies were many, but the Jews were ________.

9. The ________ of the Maccabees’ hometown was Modiin.

11. The most famous Maccabee.

12. The candle we use to light the Menorah is called the ___________ 15. Many Chanukah foods, like latkes and donuts, are ______ in oil.

16. The Greeks wanted to _______ certain Mitzvos.

17. Potato pancakes are also called ___________ .

18. We light the ____________ on Chanukah.

20. The candle we kindle first is the _______ one.

22. We can _______ at the light of the Menorah, but we may not use it for anything else.

23. Oil for the Menorah is made from_________.

25. We all love to ________ dreidel.

26. First letter on the dreidel.

Photo: Jaime Spaniol/Unsplash Originally published in The Moshiach Times, published by Tzivos Hashem.

Keeping Jewish | December 2023 |

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BS”D

LET THEIR LIGHT

BE YOUR LEGACY Leave an eternal legacy to the Jewish community.

Remember Chabad in your will.

For more information on planned giving: 520-881-7956 #12 | info@ChabadTucson.com | December 2023 | Keeping Jewish