* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
1) Tonight we light the eighth and last candle of Chanukah. And here’s a “scoop” for you: Chanukah isn’t over tonight but continues until Monday night. The final day of Chanukah, known as “Zot Chanukah,” is considered a very important day. The Chassidic rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzhin, reflected on the power of this special day:
“What the righteous of each generation are able to accomplish at Neila, the closing prayer of Yom Kippur, each and every Jew is able to achieve standing by the lights of the eighth night of Chanukah.” May all our prayers be accepted as we stand near the fully lit menorah tonight.
2) Today is Rosh Chodesh Tevet. It is a day of joy, renewal, and new beginnings. We add the paragraph “Ya’aleh v’Yavo” to our prayers, recite Hallel (festive chapters from the Book of Tehilim), and observevarious other customs.
Chodesh Tov! May you be blessed with a good month ahead.
3) And today, on Rosh Chodesh Tevet, the Jewish communities of Tunisia, Gerba, Libya, Morocco,and others— celebrate “Eid El Banat”—the “Festival of the Daughters.” On this day, it has been customary for women to ask one another for forgiveness like on Yom Kippur, for young girls to participate in communal bat mitzvah celebrations,and for single women to join together in prayer. There are other customs still observed to mark this festive women’s holiday.
Shavua Tov, Chodesh Tov, and Chanukah Sameach!
