By Rabbi Yankel Raskin – Chabad of Brooklyn Heights
On the eighth night of Chanukah, 5781, we had just been hit by a blizzard. My family and I started to ready the 30 foot Rabbi Jacob J. Hecht Menorah, the Official Brooklyn Menorah at Borough Hall, at the center of Brooklyn Heights, where we are Shluchim.
When I arrived to start the cherry picker (which we had been renting) I realized that it was already running. I feared the engine had been on since the night before, when we left due to the blizzard but forgot to shut down the truck.
When my brother and I checked the gas, it was close to empty.
People were already arriving; we had no time to get more gas.
My brother Mendy said, “It will be like the Chanukah oil.” Nervous, but trusting in Hashem, I got on the lift and hoped to light the menorah quickly before the cherry picker stopped. Once up in the air, I discovered, to my horror, that the storm had broken the glass in all the lamps.
I quickly descended for new glass covers and then arose again to light the candles.
After all the drama, with our candles successfully aflame, and blessings said, we descended. My father, Rabbi Raskin, said, “Yankel, maybe take this guy up for a ride.” I replied, “How many miracles do you think we can rely on?” I parked the truck for the night–and the engine stopped cold. It really was out of gas.
The gas lasted just long enough for the mitzvah of lighting the last lights on the eighth night of Chanukah, 5781, the Year of Wonders.
Thanks for sharing!
Also in Tel Aviv The rainstorm stoped mayb 10 mins before the grand lighting of the Dizengoff Menora!!!
Moshiach NOW!!