The eighth day of Chanukah is known as “Zos Chanukah.” Zos Chanukah has the k’dushah of the past seven days of Chanukah built up. The s’farim ha’k’doshim bring down how it’s a very auspicious time to gaze at the eight flames and daven from your heart. The day is m’sugal for one to daven for barren women to have children, for a r’fuah sh’leimah, and for one to be blessed with increased parnasah.
When I was a child my mother used to spin her favorite records for us at home all the time. As a child of the’70s, she loved folk music and played all sorts of records for us. One of her favorites was Simon & Garfunkel. I vividly remember hearing “The Sound of Silence,” “Mrs. Robinson,” and “Scarborough Fair” over and over again. I didn’t understand the lyrics, but I loved the music.
Following up on its initial item distribution event for Jewish school educators last month, Chickens for Shabbos and Chazaq organized a second event on the week of Thanksgiving to support the rebbeim and moros teaching at yeshivos and day schools in Queens.
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern was the third generation of his family to enjoy sermons and the presence of Rabbi Joseph Grunblatt at the Queens Jewish Center. He was the featured speaker at the Sixth Annual Yahrzeit Lecture in Memory of Rabbi Joseph Grunblatt this past Motza’ei Shabbos.