Survivor Testimonies: The Past, Present…and Future?
By Deb Finkelstein
Congratulations to the Midwest Center on Holocaust Education (MCHE) which commemorated its 30th anniversary year by featuring conversations with the “I Witness: Conversations with Survivors” program. Over the course of this year, MCHE hosted monthly Holocaust survivors in conversation to a diverse audience of those interested in the survivor stories.
I cannot think of a more important opportunity at a more important time for all of us to listen to and learn from the traumatic experiences of the Holocaust survivors. We are now living in a time when the word “survivor” takes on a contemporary relevance and urgency.
I attended many of those monthly conversations and paid particular attention to the many school and youth groups in attendance. I listened to the students’ questions for the survivors who, in many instances, would have been of the same age at the time of their Holocaust experience.
As the Holocaust survivors age, MCHE recognized the critical time limit of memorializing their life experiences before, during and after World War II. Their testaments and voices play a role in Holocaust memory and education for the present and future generations.
The Midwest Center for Holocaust Education has many educational programs and events, and the “I Witness: Conversations with Survivors” is one of the more impactful because the time is short for those life stories to be told and to be heard.
Deb Finkelstein is a community member from Leawood, Kansas.
Supporting Israel through Chabad initiatives
By Blumah Wineberg
The war in Israel has been and continues to be in the collective hearts and minds of all Jewish people and good people throughout the world.
As Israel struggles to bring home the hostages and fight a war for freedom for all mankind, we look for guidance to know what we can do to help.
The Jewish people are one whole unit. We are all connected. We certainly see this as Jews from around the world continue to fly to Israel to help in any way possible; and gather to pray and do mitzvot for the safety of our brethren in Israel.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke up loud and clear throughout the years of his leadership, and his strength and guidance were accepted by Jews of all walks of life both in Israel and the world. The Rebbe taught that physical warfare must be connected to spiritual awakening.
The Tefillin campaign, that Jewish men and boys of bar mitzvah-age and older should put on Tefillin daily (except on Shabbat and Jewish holidays), began prior to the miraculous Six-Day War. Soldiers of all stripes opened their hearts and stretched out their arms to don Tefillin, as our Sages say that the mitzvah of Tefillin helps ward off the enemy. Subsequently, the Rebbe instructed a Ten Mitzvah Campaign, known as the Ten Mivtzoim, each one a powerful mitzvah, and one which will help Israel win against her enemies (see chabad.org/mivtzoim).
The Rebbe further encouraged every man, woman and child to have a letter in a Sefer Torah. A Unity Torah is being written as I write these lines for all men and women, and a Kids’ Torah for all children under bar and bat mitzvah-age. A special Torah is being written for the soldiers— If you know a Jewish soldier or would like to partner for a soldier, please go to idfunitytorah.com. A letter in a Torah scroll has the power to save lives.
To purchase a letter in a Torah scroll, please go to chabad.org/unitytorah. To purchase a letter for children under bar and bat mitzvah age, please go to kidstorah.org.
Light dispels darkness. We must each add light to our lives to completely wipe away the darkness rearing its ugly head in the world.
Jewish people are not afraid because throughout our history, G-d has saved us from savage enemies. Today, every Jewish man and woman alive is a product of mesirut nefesh – the self-sacrifice of a parent, grandparent and great-grandparent who stood steadfast in commitment to Judaism in the face of challenges.
We are now in the month of Kislev, the month of light and redemption. The upcoming holiday of Hanukkah reminds us that G-d fights our battles, “the many in the hands of the few…” Maccabi stands for “Who is like You, O’ G-d!” This was the clarion call of the Maccabees. Yes, they were brave and had to fight real battles, but they knew that G-d was fighting the battle with them. And this is how they won against the Greeks, who had the largest most sophisticated army of the time. The first thing the Maccabees did when they won the battle on the ground was to go to the holy Temple in Jerusalem and light the menorah. Once again, the physical/spiritual light of the Jewish people would burn brightly and light up the world.
For the Jewish people today, wherever they are, whether in Israel or the Diaspora, a light has been kindled, and our souls have been awakened. It is most important to express this connection by doing a mitzvah. A mitzvah is a light which transcends space and time. “For a mitzvah is a candle and the Torah (our guidebook) is light,” our Sages say.
In Kansas City, Neshei Chabad is recruiting Neshek Influencers to spread light. The Hebrew word neshek means ammunition. The acrostic neshek means lighting the holy Shabbat candles. Neshek Influencers make sure that they light their own candles on Friday in honor of Shabbat at the proper time, 18 minutes before sunset, and encourage other Jewish women and girls to light their candles as well. A girl from about the age of three years old can begin lighting the Shabbat candles with the help of her mother. Today, we need every bit of light possible.
A free Neshek candle lighting kit is available locally to help Jewish women and girls be prepared to light their candles and spread the light to every corner of the world.
Neshek Influencers are part of the global candle lighting campaign for Israel. Post a picture of your special candles before lighting with the hashtag #LightForIsrael.
To become a Neshek Influencer and for more information about this light project, please contact Blumah at (913) 940-1113.
Together we will be victorious and celebrate Hanukkah with light and joy.
Blumah Wineberg leads the Neshei Chabad program at Chabad of Overland Park and Leawood.
