At midday of the last day of Chanukah, Nassau County government leaders, Howard Weitzman, County Comptroller and District Attorney Kathleen Rice, gathered to light all eight Chanukah candles with Chabad of Mineola, led by Rabbi Anchelle Perl.
This event took place at the prestigious location, Nassau County’s own 9/11 memorial in Eisenhower Park to link the 9/11 in the USA with the 9/11 in India, that happened just about 4 weeks ago.
Rabbi Perl shared the following thoughts.
“In contrast to the terrorists who spent long hours, days, months, resources and strategy to fulfill a mission of hate, destruction, chaos and murder, all the 8 candles of the Menorah with the ‘Twin Towers’ in the background, surrounded by the memories and legacy of over 344 Nassau County residents who lost their lives in the USA 9/11 who are always foremost in our thoughts, we now rally to uplift the lives of the 175 innocent lives so senselessly destroyed in Mumbai India’s 9/11, among them the illuminating lives of Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkie Holtzberg, the Chabad emissaries who were tortured and murdered while serving their Chabad House with love.
“After the traumatic events here in the United States and in India it is easy to feel despair. The forces arrayed against goodness may seem overwhelming. But the message of Chanukah is that the oil of goodness, of morality, of courage and conviction will rise above.”
Rabbi Shmuel Nechemia and Devorah Spielman were the Guests of Honor. Devorah is the sister of Gavriel Holtzberg. She spoke movingly of her brother and sister-in-law Rivkie, revealing new details of their true Ahavas Yisroel. Rabbi Spielman reported about recent his trip to Mumbai where he led a large delegation with Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, to help light the Menorahs at the Mumbai Chabad House and at the Taj Mahal Hotel.
Being so close to the beginning of 2009, and because this year has seen so much economic stress and financial meltdown, prayers were said by rabbinical leader and Cantor Feitel Lewin who explained that the warm lights of Chanukah with their strong message of hope, will shine success and prosperity into the New Year for this great nation, the United States of America.
