Does it feel to you like it is time for Chanukah? We are already in November, and Chanukah will begin on Sunday night, the 28th. After the great quarantine of 2020, it seems like 2021 has just slipped by and is nearly over. Am I wrong?
Hopefully, you enjoyed reuniting with your family and friends for the High Holy Days and for Sukkos. It felt amazing to be back together again, instead of stuck at home. In an ironic twist, I got COVID-19 on Yom Kippur and was quarantined until Hoshana Rabbah. Deja Vu!
I personally learned to appreciate my shul, my friends, and the familiar davening in my own shtiebel. No longer can I take for granted the ability to daven with a minyan or share in a simchah. I also look forward to spending time with my grandchildren as they take special delight in the Chanukah festivities. Appar.ently, there will be a shortage of imported toys and games for the “holiday season.” I’ve never been a fan of “Chanukah presents,” for which there is no source in Jewish tradition. I prefer to give cash, and perhaps dreidels to spin.
The Chanukah holiday recalls the victory of our holy Torah over the secular. Yeshivah defeated university, spiritual study trounced physical pleasure. Even today we live in a country rooted in the same emptiness. How do you define the American dream (with every respect to the mall in New Jersey)? Work hard, become successful, and enjoy life, right? My own parents wanted to make a “better life” for their children. We learned to play violin, took judo lessons, and attended the symphony orchestra. Is that what brings everlasting joy? Or are those just enjoyable distractions?
There is nothing wrong with enjoying extracurricular activities, as long as they are not an end in themselves. The vast depth and beauty of our Torah can fill a lifetime of learning, never exhausting the content. The wisdom therein includes millennia of study and commentary. We receive untold rewards for every moment invested. It is the secret of our longevity on the world stage.
Speaking of Jewish continuity, as you may know from last month’s article, I have recently become a volunteer shaddchan. I am happy to report that in the last week alone, five different couples said “yes” to a first date. I never realized how much I would enjoy getting to know people, learning about them, and discovering what kinds of lives they envision. It is my personal mission to get regular people like you involved in thinking about making matches for singles you know.
Someone in Israel reached out to me with a suggestion for an activity this Chanukah. As we gather with friends and family, announce a 45-minute session for everyone to write down every person they know who is single. Then spend some time discussing each one. See if anyone in the room can think of a good idea for a match. Write down all of the suggestions and then make sure to follow up!
I believe that everyone knows at least five single people. If you don’t then get in touch with me. I have plenty to share. In the three months since I began doing this, I have spoken with almost 150 people who are looking for their life partner. I find new ones nearly every day and in every situation. It is such a special privilege to be involved. This is what Hashem Himself has been doing since creation (See Bereishis Rabbah 68:4). What better partner can one possibly have?
There is one final topic I must discuss. November 2 will be the general election for New York City. Nearly every seat will be filled by a non incumbent. This includes the Mayor, Borough Presidents, Comptroller, and all 51 New York City Council Seats. Regardless of which candidates you choose, it is still vital that you show up and cast your vote. Our community is depending on you to ensure that our voices are heard. Please. Bring everyone in your family to show them how important this is. Anyone who is 18 or older and registered to vote can do so until 9:00 P.M.
