45 babies accompanied by their parents and grandparents were in attendance at Mill Hill Shul in London this past Sunday for a special Menorah lighting and ‘baby blessing.’
The blessings includes the recitation of several Tefilois and Tehilim of shevach vhoido’oh, Menorah lighting (a torch handed from one father to the next and likewise by the women) with which the menorah is then lit.
At the end, the parents receiving a special poster with the Shema and their child’s name and birchas Cohanim.
“The first time we did this, 7 years ago we had 17 babies born within the year in the community and I wondered whether we would be able to keep it going as a viable concern,” Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet said in his speech.
“Since then we have been averaging 30-40 babies a year with this year breaking all records in there being 45 newborns.”
He went on to explain that Chanukah is a wonderful time to do a special birchas Cohanim on all the babies – “because this is when we celebrate the miracle of lights.
“And there is no greater miracle than the birth of your baby and there is no greater light than the neshama you bring into this world and through which it will, in due course, impact this world. ”
He also explained the significance of chinuch in the context of Chanukah and how this is the moment that they have to all resolve to ensure a sound Jewish education for their children.
This celebration was followed by a special play and production for toddlers at which more than 400 young children and parents turned out for two sold-old productions.
very few shuls do it and even then only if they have babies. in his case, fastest growing shul in london, Those that do it, do it on yomtov – shavuos or something so it is clever that he does it on chanuka abd gets everyomne in
this is the tradition in the synagogues in england. It is not something Schochet has started, and not in chabad shuls, so don’t panic about him being not chabad.
it does not mean it should be introduced in our shuls — as you say, we need to keep to our minhogim
There are many so called beautiful minhagim – that chabad does not follow. No one has a right to introduce new minhagim, unless of course the rabbi isn’t chabad..
There are people that keep adding a new chumra or minhag whenever they get a “feel good” about it. We b”h have our mesorah, our minhogim, our chumras. No need to tinker by adding or detracting.
birchas habonim on friday nights is a most beautiful minhag – to my humble opinion every lubavitcher should take upon himself this minhag
i think he does do bircas habonim Friday night — The Rebbe did it to him in Yechidas when he was a little kid — ask him for the story….
This is a shining example of creative programming, directed “b’ofen hamiskabel.” I love the tie-in with chinuch, as well. You and your program are a dugma chaya that others (wherever it’s shayach) should copy!
it was probably a lot of noise
WoW! What a Kiddush Hashem!
So many happy faces, and in Shul!
You are raising your community’s children well,
They will be the ‘heim hikiroohoo t’chiloh’!
Rabbi Schochet, you have just made my day.
It’s cold outside, but you have shone intense warmth.
Just look at all those people coming to Shul
And, on a weekday, NOCH!
This is just incredible,
And so are you and your family!
Happy Chanukah to all!!!!!
And to the ‘nay-sayer’; Happy poor-him!
This shul is a flagship United synagogue shul, and this is a peulo to bring young family’s and get them involved. it does not mean that b/c he is a Lubavitcher he is making new minhogim. its the same as many shluchim singing moez tzur on chanukah.
get a life
whats wrong with birchas habonim on friday night.
keep ur oiy vays to urself
New minhag? Not done in Chabad! Next, he will do bircas habonim on Shabbos night?! We have our minhagim and horo’as, we must not add or detract.
Really nice!
Love it!
Actually we had a banner year here too, where FOUR (that’s a lot in these parts;) babies were born to local “MUMS”.
Here the goyim bring thier animals to be bless in St. Pats Catherdral Lehavdil.
Mazel tov.