Chanukah 1986, As Recalled By Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky

BH

Erev Chanukah 5784

Dear Shliach/Shlucha,

I trust this email finds you well and gearing up for your Chanukah events בשמחה ובטוב לבב.

We know that these are dark times, but Chanukah empowers all of us, especially you, dear shluchim, to eradicate the darkness in a spectacular manner.

I am reminded of Chanukah תשמ”ז. On Monday morning, the third day of Chanukah, the Rebbe called for me to come into his room. At 12:10, I went in for about twenty minutes. The Rebbe handed me the album Let There Be Light, which we had published the year prior, and instructed that we publish another book with reports of this year’s Chanukah activities. He said that all the shluchim should immediately be contacted with instructions to photograph their Chanukah programs and public menorah lightings, and to tell them that this is נוגע לרבים. Two hours later, as we drove to the Ohel, I reported that many shluchim around the world have already been contacted.

On Tuesday, after asking how the Chanukah campaign was going, the Rebbe told me that the shluchim all over the world be contacted again to inform them that since he would be visiting the Ohel on the following day (the fifth day of Chanukah), they should submit reports of their activities before he leaves for the Ohel. On the way home that evening, following a children’s rally, Mincha and a sicha and Maariv, I reported to the Rebbe about the calls to the shluchim, and he mentioned again that the shluchim be told that this is important for the publicizing of the shluchim’s activities.

On Wednesday, after visiting the Ohel and delivering a sicha after maariv, as we drove home, the Rebbe said to me, “I surely do not need to encourage you to contact all the shluchim again to stir them to action with a טראסק!” I returned to the office with with my staff, and telephoned all the shluchim once again.

On Thursday morning, I told the Rebbe about the calls of the previous night. In the afternoon, the Rebbe sent me a tzetel instructing that the shluchim be called again, and then in the evening, the Rebbe sent out another tzetel. On the way home, the Rebbe asked again for a report on the telephone calls to the shluchim. We returned to the office for another round of calls.

Friday morning, riding to “770” from his home, I reported to the Rebbe that we had telephoned all the shluchim last night.

Four days later, on Hei Teves, we received the spectacular news of דידן נצח.

The activities and photos of that Chanukah were documented in the album …And There Was Light.

The album came off the press on 25 Cheshvan תשמ״ח, the very day on which we received the great news of the דידן נצח of the book trial appeal. The album arrived from the binder, three days later, on 27 Cheshvan, the day on which the order was received that the books (of the book trial) must be returned to the Library.

On the note attached to the album submitted to the Rebbe by the editor, Rabbi Yosef B Friedman, the Rebbe wrote גרם נח״ר רב.

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Year after year the Rebbe encouraged you, dear shluchim, regarding מבצע חנוכה and its פירסומי ניסא and that you do it ביתר שאת.

The Rebbe’s words resonate now with profound urgency. I know that in some places there are attempts to cancel or limit the Chanukah celebrations due to fear of violent protests. Surely, the Rebbe would instruct us to enlarge our Chanukah menorah lighting campaigns, to intensify our Chanukah celebrations, and make the lights of this year’s Chanukah festivities illuminate the world with even more transcendent brilliance.

May the joy and light of Chanukah that you will disseminate, the unity of Am Yisroel and the גאון יעקב that you exemplify, bring solace to all the grieving hearts, and finally usher in the ultimate geulah with Moshiach tzidkeinu.

Wishing you tremendous hatzlacha, and a freilichin, lichtiken Chanukah!

Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky