Chanuka 5779
by HaRav Nachman Kahana
Our family and friends celebrated my wife Feiga’s eightieth birthday (to 120) this week.
Each family wrote blessings to their Imma, Savta and Savta Raba (mother, grandmother and great grandmother), but one letter stands out because it represents the others in content and spirit. It is also special because it encapsulates all of the weekly messages that I have been sending out these past 15 years.
Following is the translation from Ivrit.
Dear and beloved Imma and Savta:
Heartfelt and sincere mazal tov on your 80th birthday.
We now merit to celebrate your attaining the age of gevurot (courage and fortitude, as stated in Pirkei Avot בן שמונים לגבורות) at the holiday of light and courage (Chanuka).
LIGHT – we have all received much light from you – the light of learning Torah, the light of love and devotion, the light of love for the Land and Yerushalayim.
COURAGE – necessary for fulfilling the mitzvot of the Torah in total sincerity, courage to leave your place of birth to come on aliya during the difficult early years of the Medina, courage to raise a new generation of kohanim and kohanot in Eretz Yisrael. A generation where each son and daughter contribute an essential part in the redemption of our Land and Nation.
We wish you with all our heart multitude blessings, good health, nachat and joy.
With much love….
This letter was from our youngest son’s family, who has recently retired from the army with the rank of general.
Indeed, Feiga and I are blessed with a special family. As stated in the letter, our children received much “light” and guidance from us; however, they as 5th generation sabras have turned that light into a torch of love and dedication to the ideals that have held the Jewish nation together since Sinai. The proof is the fact that our sons and daughters have successfully transferred these ideals to their own children.
Often after meeting the family, Feiga and I would bless HaShem for taking us out of galut, because only here in the Holy land could we have raised children totally dedicated to continuing our sacred ties to the Creator in preparation for the next great chapter in Jewish history.
King David writes in Tehillim 128,5-6:
ה) יברכך ה’ מציון וראה בטוב ירושלם כל ימי חייך:
ו) וראה בנים לבניך שלום על ישראל:
5 May HaShem bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children peace be on Israel
Shabbat Shalom and Chanuka Samayach,
Nachman Kahana
Copyright © 5779/2018 Nachman Kahana
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