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Rabbi's Blog

The Unity of Chanukah Lights

 In a little over a week we will begin the celebration of the Festival of Lights, known as the holiday of Chanukah.

 

When it comes to expressing that which makes us uniquely human, the essence of our soul, there are many different approaches. Billy Joel said, "I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music."

A person’s words too, are but an expression of their living soul. Although in the expression of words themselves there are distinctions. For example can you compare the amount of "soul" vested in a simple expression like "excuse me sir, may I please have a latte" to something like "I love you my dear, you are my everything"? In observing this distinction, something else becomes obvious, our beings have many forms of expression. Some forms of expression allow us access to a deeper self, or it could be said a particular form of expression is “more soul filled” than another.

The teachings of Chassidus assist us in reaching the deepest levels of self. And the deeper we connect to that place that is “soul filled” the more likely we are to live a life that is governed by light. This is why music is such an important expression of the soul, because it has the ability to reach deep within, make the connection to the inner self and as a result open us to the light.

In a little over a week we will begin the celebration of the Festival of Lights, known as the holiday of Chanukah. While Chanukah is a Jewish holiday, the message of this festival carries a tone that transcends religious boundaries and taps into our inner light, the deepest sense of our humanity, which exists beyond the rituals and practices of different peoples.

When Moses was first instructed to construct the seven-branched Menorah candelabra he was instructed that it be made from one piece of pure gold, a symbol of unity. The seven branches represent of the seven archetypal personalities that exist within man. The kindling of the Menorah is an expression of the one Divine light, the light that lives deep within our beings and has the capacity to unite all peoples.

In light of the above (pun intended) I take this opportunity to invite you and your family to join the Malibu community and me, on Saturday, Dec. 8, for an evening of joy, song, laughter, unity and light (and potato latkes and donuts) at our Chanukah Unity Concert.

The festivities will take place at the Malibu City Hall Civic Theater. We are pleased to announce that the emcee of the concert will be Terence Davis, the renowned musician and founder of The Malibu Music Awards and Malibu Music Festival. The concert will feature the Miami Boy’s Choir, the Moshav Band, and maybe even a dance or two from one of our youngest Chassidic dancers out there, my son Shmulie.

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, provides an opportune time to reach within and be touched by the light. The soul filled music of these groups is certain to hit a high note as together we celebrate the triumph of light over darkness. To learn more about the event please click here.

Some of you may recall the 1960’s ad campaign that said, "You don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s real Jewish rye," well, you don’t have to be Jewish to unite with the Chanukah lights. I look forward to welcoming you there.

Shabbat Shalom!

Happy Thanksgiving from Rabbi Levi Cunin

 As a Jew living in Malibu, I am especially grateful, because I am reminded of the pain and sorrow endured by my paternal grandmother Rochel, who lost all of her siblings in the Holocaust.


A story is told one beautiful, sunny afternoon a woman was standing on the shore holding her young daughter’s hand when out of nowhere a tremendous wave engulfed them and in a split second swept the young child out to sea. The mother stood at the water’s edge screaming and praying to G-d to be reunited with her daughter.

To her great amazement, in the precise moment of her prayer, a second great wave delivered her daughter right back to her. As the mother began crying and expressing her heartfelt thanks for such an awesome miracle she noticed that the doll her daughter had been holding was still lost at sea. She looked up to the heavens and said, “there is one more thing.... dear G-d, she was holding a doll..."

We don’t necessarily need a miracle to remind us to express our gratitude. In the United States we have a holiday of thanksgiving to celebrate our good fortune.

In November of 1789, our first president, George Washington, proclaimed the first national celebration of Thanksgiving. He wrote, “both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me ‘to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’"

As a Jew living in Malibu, I am especially grateful, because I am reminded of the pain and sorrow endured by my paternal grandmother Rochel, who lost all of her siblings in the Holocaust, and my maternal grandparents who fled religious persecution in communist Russia. The United States, in the spirit of "one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," has afforded a safe and secure harbor for my family, the Jewish people, people of all walks of life, and in particular those who are victims of nations run by tyrants or religious extremists.

In the Rebbe’s 1984 Thanksgiving address, the Rebbe pointed out that Thanksgiving was not established by our nations leaders as a "religious" holiday, for "religious" people, rather as a day that all of us, regardless of our differences and beliefs take a moment give our gratitude to our Maker. While our founders spoke of "Divine providence," this holiday was to remind us that although our founders believed in the separation of Church and State, meaning there would be no official religion, they did believe in G-d.

Today more than ever, as tyranny and sentiments of hatred cloaked in the name of G-d and religion once again rears its ugly head, we must honor those who had the courage more than two and a half centuries ago to establish the United States of America. On behalf of all lovers of freedom, wherever you may be, thank you! May G-d bless this country and all good peoples of our planet. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Shabbat Shalom!

In Response to Terror

 Rabbi Levi Cunin asks Malibu residents to light Shabbat candles in the place of Mirah Sharf, the Chabad emissary in Delhi India, who was killed by a Hamas rocket in Israel this week.


Exactly four years ago to this day in the Hebrew calendar, Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg, emissaries of the Rebbe and the beloved directors of Chabad-Lubavitch of Mumbai, were killed at their Chabad House in an act of a terror.

According to security services, the Chabad House was a pre-selected target of at least 10 suspected Islamic terrorists who came ashore in Mumbai near the Gateway of India monument. Sadly nine people in the Chabad house and a total of 195 people were killed during those fateful Wednesday night through Friday attacks. 

Miraculously, the Holzberg’s toddler son, Moshe managed to escape hours before the incident as a result of heroic actions of Sandra Samuel, his nanny from India. Moshe, whose birthday was the following Saturday, was thankfully unharmed.

This week in observance of the memory of the victims, Mirah Sharf, the Chabad emissary in Delhi India, arrived in Israel to attend a special service marking the anniversary of the attack on the Chabad House of Mumbai in 2008. Tragically a Hamas rocket fired at Kiryat Malachi early Thursday morning killed Mirah, who was pregnant, and two other members of the Chabad community. Additionally Mirah’s four-year old son and her two-year old and eight-month old daughters, sustained injuries and are hospitalized.

When will the madness end?   

My heart aches for Mirah and her family, and quite frankly I am in a state of shock. Although there is nothing I can do to turn back the hands of time, I am certain as a Chabad emissary, the legacy of Mirah's death will continue to spread light and joy to the people in India where she served. This past week it was not just the Chabad community that suffered the loss of a beloved hero, it was not just the Jewish community that suffered the loss of a leader, it was all peoples who desire true peace and harmony that suffered a major light outage. Indeed rockets of hate and forces of conflict extinguished a great shining light, a voice of peace, and lover of people.

I never met Mirah in person but as a fellow follower of Chasidic teachings, I know that if Mirah could speak now she would ask that we take our rage and anger of such senseless hate and heinous acts of cold blooded murder and channel it to greater focus on the light. She would ask all those that would like to honor her memory to do so with acts of goodness and kindness.

In addition, tonight, Friday night, Mirah would have done what Jewish woman and girls have been doing for thousands of years every Friday at sundown, she would usher in the Sabbath by lighting candles.

Tonight if you would like to light Shabbat candles in her place, I am certain she would be delighted.

Our world suffered the loss of a great leader this week just as the enemies of peace have taken many an innocent life. Nonetheless we have been taught that just as a candle illuminates a room that was once dark, so too every act of goodness and kindness tips the cosmic scale and transforms the forces of darkness into pure light. Let us continue to spread the light Mirah kindled in India to every corner of the world. 

Shabbat Shalom!

The Power of Choice

 The ability to choose America's leaders has particular significance to someone like me, a second-generation child of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, whose grandparents did not share such freedoms.


American citizens have exercised, perhaps the most important gift bestowed upon human beings, the ability to choose. The idea that the people can elect and if necessary impeach leaders as a result of freedom of choice is a miracle. This has particular significance to someone like me, a second-generation child of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, whose grandparents did not share such freedoms.

Perhaps the outcome of the election does not conform to your choices. Perhaps you may even find some of the election results offensive, but the underlying fact that we, the citizens of this great nation, have the freedom to choose our leaders and shape policy, in a transparent way, is something that is not afforded to the majority of people living today. 

As I write these words I find myself among thousands of my colleagues, who have come to New York for the Annual International Convention of Lubavitcher Rebbe Emissaries. These Chabad Emissaries have, together with their wives and children, left the comfort of their hometowns, moved to the four corners of the earth, and dedicated their lives to the purpose of spreading light and joy around the world. Many have arrived from countries where there is very little freedom.

Some of them are living in dictatorships with a real possibility of at any moment being taken without cause by the authorities. In such countries they have no rights to properly defend themselves. I am compelled to ask why? Is it just a coincidence that we, you and I, have this great privilege of freedom here in our great nation? Are we simply lucky, and they not? 

Historically, many people of the world have been denied their right to exercise choice. However, freedom of choice lies at the very core of our living Soul. Unlike animals, by design, human beings have been granted the ability to contemplate and chose. As the dust of the election settles, it is incumbent upon us to remember that this great gift of freedom allows for true debate and real progress. As a student of the Baal Shemtov’s teachings, I am once again humbled by the great responsibility that comes with the gift of freedom. Our choices carry the ingredients of a kinder and better world. 

Shabbat Shalom!

In the Wake of Sandy, Think of Others

 Malibu Rabbi Levi Cunin reflects on the destruction of Superstorm Sandy on the East Coast.


Recently, I read a Chassidic anecdote regarding a man, Mr. A., who was traveling on a ship with a group of other people. Mr. A. had his own private room on the lower deck. One day a fellow shipmate, Mr. B., walked into Mr. A’s room and was shocked to find him drilling a hole right in the center of the room; the water was beginning to gush in.

"Are you nuts?!" asked Mr. B. "What in the world are you doing?"

"Look, this is my room," replied Mr. A. "if you don’t like what you see, then you are welcome to leave my room"

Mr. B., was quick to remind his friend that true, this was Mr. A's room, but the hole that he was drilling was placing the whole ship and everyone on board in danger.

This past week's colossal storm, Superstorm Sandy slammed into the East coast, with winds and waves that have been described as a storm of “Biblical” proportions. It has wreaked havoc on millions of Americans. This devastating storm pummeled and walloped homes, businesses and other structures with its winds, while churning rivers of water through entire towns and cities. 

Thousands of our fellow citizens have been left without a place to call home. This is a good time to be reminded that we are all on one ship and that when it comes to certain events, our focus as a people must be about the importance of community. It is crucial that each and every community looks out for each other making sure that we are there for those who are in need.

In the aftermath of this great storm, there are immediate needs. In the comfort of living thousands of miles away, with the benefit of running water and working electricity, it is easy for some to become apathetic. After all, so many people today struggle with their own worries, and their own financial headaches. Yet, it is precisely in times like these, when many of our fellow citizens have no where to turn as they try to pump water out of their home and provide basic shelter for their frightened and traumatized families, we must be reminded that we are all on one ship.

Every small act of goodness and kindness is significant and truly helps.

Many of my Chabad colleagues are working around the clock, providing meals and temporary living quarters, organizing volunteers and seeking out those in need. Many of them are struggling themselves, having lost their own home and possessions. There are many reputable organizations that are on the ground making sure that the basic needs of those left out in the cold are being met, they can all use more help in helping so many others.

Thus said the great sage Hillel: "If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" - Avot 1:13

If you would like to join Chabad of Malibu’s efforts to help those who are suffering due to hurricane ‘Sandy’, please click here. Be sure to earmark your donation for the relief effort. Thank you!

Shabbat Shalom!

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