– Avi Kumar

In 2019, Benjamin (“Bibi”) Netanyahu replaced the legendary founder of the Jewish State, David Ben Gurion, as Israel’s longest-serving head of state, having held the position of Prime Minister from 1996-1999, and then from 2009-2019. When he was finally unseated last spring, many of his political rivals and adversaries triumphantly declared that the “Bibi era” had ended.  But after yet another election became necessary following the fall of the short-lived Bennet-Lapid coalition, Netanyahu has returned as Israel’s premier.

Israelis have gone to the polls five times in under four years due to a series of deadlocks, and flimsy coalition governments that did not survive.  Finally, this time around, a clear majority was won.  Netanyahu’s Likud party increased its parliamentary hold from 30 to 32 seats, while its presumed coalition partners – the Religious Zionist Party, Shas, and United Torah Judaism – won a total of 32 Knesset seats, assuring Netanyahu a majority of 64 out of 120 seats. November’s election brought 70 percent of Israelis to the polls – one of the highest turnouts in recent years – and they handed Netanyahu and his coalition partners a majority which eluded all candidates in the previous four elections, setting the stage for what will likely be a stable government that will rule for the next four years.

This is not the first time Bibi returned to the throne after having been unseated. Ehud Barak defeated Netanyahu after his first term in office, in 1999, but his government fell shortly thereafter, making him at the time the shortest-serving prime minister in Israeli history. This dubious distinction is now held by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, whose rotation-based government lasted just one year. Netanyahu has proven yet again that his contenders who succeed in overthrowing him end up failing to deliver and not lasting very long. 

What’s the secret? Why do Israelis keep Bibi in power?

Security Above All

Netanyahu’s popularity is likely due, in large measure, to his track record, to the relative security and prosperity that Israel has enjoyed under his leadership. Seventy-two-year-old Dror Kolton says, “Netanyahu is the only adult in the room among all the party leaders. He is a pragmatic right-winger, rather than an extremist, who gave us four peace agreements without compromising with the Palestinians, who have never had a formal state in their history. He also elevated Israel’s economy from a third-world socialist country to the hi-tech nation that it is today, which is helping its Middle-Eastern neighbors and the entire world to progress into the future – through innovative water purification methods and other technological innovations that the entire world uses each and every day. He also opened up Israel’s gates to India, Africa, Eastern Europe, South America, and beyond. We can and will continue to talk about his achievements for a long time.” 

With security threats always looming, Israelis trust Netanyahu’s knowledge, experience, and diplomatic acumen. Along Israel’s northern border, Iran threatens the Jewish State through its local proxy, Hezbollah, which exerts control in Lebanon. After outgoing PM Yair Lapid’s recent maritime agreement with Lebanon, Israel is now required to share with its hostile neighbor its valuable offshore gas field, which could conceivably fall into the hands of Hezbollah. It is estimated that the paramilitary group has over 150 000 missiles, substantially more than its arsenal during the disastrous 2006 Lebanon War. Such a large arsenal threatens to overwhelm Israel’s Iron Dome air-defense system. By contrast, Netanyahu has historically opposed capitulating to Israel’s enemies. In 2005, when then PM Ariel Sharon withdrew from Gaza and expelled its Jewish residents, Netanyahu, who was his Finance Minister at the time, resigned in protest. As many right-wing Israelis feared, the withdrawal from Gaza resulted in the territory being taken over by Hamas, another Iranian proxy, which has since launched thousands of rockets towards Israel, and has burned thousands of dunams of valuable agricultural land by sending incendiary balloons across the border. Many Israelis prefer Netanyahu’s hardline approach, fearing that the Left’s willingness to compromise is too risky and reckless.

Bringing Real Peace

Netanyahu’s popularity has received a boost from the groundbreaking, wildly successful Abraham Accords which were declared under his leadership. Signed in September, 2020, the accords brought full normalization of relations with Sunni Arab states which previously did not even recognize Israel’s right to exist. Thus far, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco have established full relations with Israel – without requiring any transfer of territory or other assets, as did the 1979 peace treaty with Egypt, and the 1994 treaty with Jordan.  By all accounts, the Abraham Accords have brought great benefit to the Jewish State without any dangerous or costly compromises.

Rachel Avraham from Jerusalem told Community Magazine, “It is good that we have Netanyahu simply because we have a very precarious situation and Bibi is the only leader who can keep us safe from threats like Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, etc. He pushed forward the Abraham Accords and built good relationships with many Arab and Muslim countries. He is very much a democratic leader. Despite what the opposition says, he has a diverse cabinet and those who call him a ‘racist,’ ‘fascist,’ etc. have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about.”  

The current state of the Israeli Left also contributed to Netanyahu’s electoral success.  The far-left Meretz party fell beneath the minimum threshold of four seats, thus losing its representation in the Knesset.  The Labor Party, which dominated Israel’s political landscape for decades, has sharply declined, winning only four seats – which is now the sum total of the Left’s representation in the Israeli parliament. (Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party describes itself as centrist.)  Netanyahu also capitalized on the inability of the Arab parties to merge, resulting in the Balad party falling short of the minimum threshold and thus being excluded from the Knesset. 

The election results show the trend among Israelis to move away from the Left’s vision of a Palestinian State in the West Bank, living peacefully alongside Israel. The right wing is increasingly seen as more pragmatic and realistic in its handling of the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians.

Jeremy Corcos from Bnei Barak says, “This is the first time in history where we Jews have a place to go to that has a strong army that can defend us – this is nothing short of utopic for our people. And we have nowhere else to go in case the situation gets really out of control. This is why we need a good leader. As for the way the Left wants to prosecute him – his voters think it’s just a political ‘witch hunt.’ I personally don’t care at all if he gets cigars, or other gifts and perks as long as he does the job well. And so far, he has delivered!” 

Steering the Nation Forward

Netanyahu’s career as Prime Minister is peppered with numerous iconic moments. In 2014, he brazenly and fiercely opposed then President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran in a memorable speech to Congress in 2014, debunking conventional wisdom that an Israeli leader cannot survive without bending the knee to a U.S. President. From 2016-2020, he enjoyed President Donald Trump’s nearly unconditional, enthusiastic support, as well as that of other right-wing world leaders such as Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro and India’s Narendra Modi. 

With rising anti-Semitism in the West, and unrest plaguing Ethiopia and Ukraine, Israel saw a 128 percent increase in aliyah this year.  But immigration increased also from France and the United States, attesting to the fact that Israel is seen as an attractive option even for Jews in prosperous Western countries.  The Israeli economy, which Netanyahu has led for much of the last two decades – first as Finance Minister, and then as Prime Minister – has grown in leaps and bounds, drawing the interest and attention of Jews – and investors – the world over.

As President Isaac Herzog grants the 73-year-old Netanyahu the mandate to form the next government, we can only hope that he continues to steer the nation forward into the post-Abraham Accords era, cementing Israel’s place as a world leader in security and technology, and that the people of Israel will enjoy the peace and stability that they desperately want. 

LEON SAKKAL  

Hanukah celebrates our victory of the few over the many, the triumph of the holy over the profane, the difficult fight against assimilation, and of course, the miracle of the pach shemen, the jug of oil. But what Hanukah ultimately represents is hope, something we need now more than ever.  

We live in an era with increasing hostility to our religious values, but this is not the first time in our history that the world has looked bleak. In fact, when studying the history of the Jewish people during the period of Hanukah, we can find striking similarities between then and now.  

Contrary to what some believe, the objective of the Yevanim (Greeks) was not to exterminate us. Rather, the Yevanim were determined to take away our spirituality; and to degrade us and our Torah.  They wanted to turn us into mundane beings, who focused only on the physical.  

How is that similar to what is happening today?  

While a mighty empire may not be seeking our spiritual downfall as in the story of Hanukah, today’s enemy is far more enigmatic and perhaps is even more powerful than the mighty Greeks. What we must fight now is our own obsession with modern day culture, with its emphasis on materialism, and that which is transient.  

Take a look at popular culture. We live in a world that is dictated to by social media, where many are addicted to their smart phones and electronic devices.  We are bombarded on all sides with messages that call on us to integrate into the liberal popular culture. We have come to embrace the ideas, ideals, and values of today’s fast-paced Western lifestyle.  However, this all serves to distance us from our Creator, His Torah, and a life of spirituality. Modern Western culture should be seen as the new Yevanim. Proponents of Western culture are engaged in a ruthless war to convert us to their way of thinking.  

Are we even conscious of this ongoing war that our nation faces every day? Do we know that we are in a war zone that claims the spiritual lives of thousands of Jews across the globe daily? Perhaps it is time for a reality check:  

Rising intermarriage rates indicate that Jewish values and beliefs are in danger.  So, we must take a look at our own lives.  We must examine honestly how we are doing when it comes to preserving Jewish values and beliefs.  We need to ask ourselves if we need to increase our commitment to prayer and to Torah study.  

We can feel a deep sense of despair and hopelessness when we realize the lost battles within our nation. Jews in our days assimilate in many ways, some subtle, and some dramatic, such as the ultimate act of assimilation, intermarriage. We must confront our own spiritual battles, as well. Our emunah is weaker than it was in the time of Hanukah, our will has been diminished, our defenses depleted, and apathy is rampant. The winter’s gray skies and gloomy weather certainly do not help motivate us to pick ourselves up and “recharge.”  

Then along comes Hanukah. We are granted the opportunity to remember and to reflect. We remember how Hashem miraculously saved us from the Yevanim, and we reflect on our own lives, and how Hashem continues to help us today.  We kindle the holiday lights to lift us out of our despair, to reignite our hope, and to remind us just Who is running the show.  

 Like the relief we feel upon seeing the dawn after a long, dark, and lonely night, Hanukah shines its light on the darkness of our souls and on the plight of our people.  

 “We are the future; come join us,” Greek civilization beckoned – and many Jews did. But a small band of Jews led by the Maccabeem rose up in protest. 

Their battle seemed hopeless. How could a ragtag Jewish army possibly prevail against the mighty Greeks? How could an “old-fashioned” religion compete against modernity and humanism? And yet, with Hashem holding our hands, we persevered and won.  

 We need to be as valiant in battle as we once were. Hanukah is a time to remember that we are not alone in our fight. Current events show that our people and our homeland are in danger.  Just look at the current rampant anti-Semitism.  Yet we remember that Gd is there throughout the darkness. We know that just as He looked after us at the time of Hanukah so long ago, He will continue to look after us now.  

One Thursday afternoon, not long ago, the Mitzvah Man received a call from an organization that helps battered women. 

The caller told the Mitzvah Man, “We have a single frum woman with two children who were just evicted from their home. All their belongings were locked up in the apartment. Our organization is putting the mom and her two kids into a shelter, but they have nothing. They need cots, clothing, pajamas, underwear, blankets, pillows, health and cosmetic products, and other miscellaneous items. Our organization cannot supply these. Might the Mitzvah Man Organization be able to help?” 

The Mitzvah Man answered, “I see the urgency. Let me try to figure out how we can help.” 

At 6:30pm the Mitzvah Man went to pray Minha at Park Avenue Synagogue in Long Branch.  His mind had been racing for over two hours, thinking about how he was possibly going to be able to help. As is his custom, he turned to Hashem, the ultimate Helper. The Mitzvah Man has seen time and again, in the most difficult situations, that salvation comes with tremendous Divine Providence. 

Just in time for Minha, a man named Raymond walked into the Park Avenue Synagogue.  He owns 15 discount stores that sell all the products that were needed.  

Right after prayers concluded, the Mitzvah Man approached Raymond. He began, “Raymond, we have a single mom with two kids going into a shelter. They need everything: cots, blankets, pillows, clothing, health, and cosmetic products, and more. Can you help?” 

Raymond replied, “Send me the full list needed. I’ll have EVERYTHING delivered to the shelter tomorrow.” 

The Mitzvah Man was incredulous. He stated, “What are the chances I’m going to run into Raymond or anyone that has all these goods? Who’s willing to donate them all? Who’s willing to send it the very next day? No charge?! 

“We should consider: what are the chances of Hashem providing all the good we have in our lives? What we have is only because HASHEM is shipping us goods, health, money, and many blessings all day long.” 

“Thank you, HASHEM!

Avi Abelow

Last May, Community featured a report about the demand being made by left-wing groups to reconstruct the platform of the Kotel – the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, the holiest site in Judaism. These groups insist on the creation of a large adjoining space that would be placed under the control of the Reform leadership and used for large Reform prayer services, with men and women together, in violation of centuries’ old halachic tradition. For Torah Jews, this would constitute a grave violation of the sanctity of the Kotel.

Mati Dan and Oren Honig of the Libah Yehudit organization have been combatting this initiative on several different fronts, including in the courts, seeking to protect against not only this infraction on the sanctity of the Kotel, but also the leftist movements’ other initiatives that threaten to undermine the Jewish character of the State of Israel. And they are turning to Torah Jews in the Diaspora for help.

An Effort to Change the Status Quo

The Reform movement, which has little to do with traditional Judaism, now embodies the most “woke” ideals, platforms that are at war with many of the most sacred hallmarks of Judaism, including the nuclear family, the sanctity of marriage, fetal rights and even Orthodox Jewish practice. 

The president of the Union of Reform Judaism, Rick Jacobs, has made it very clear that the movement’s agenda extends well beyond the Kotel.  

“If the Reform Kotel plan is implemented,” he said, “this will open the door for more religious pluralism in Israel.” His movement seeks not merely an area by the Kotel, but official recognition in Israel as an alternative form of Judaism – absent authentic Torah observance. The movement has publicly declared its desire to have its conversions, marriage, and kashrut – all of which are totally disjoined from traditional Jewish halacha – recognized as law in Israel. It also hopes to foster widespread public Shabbat desecration by allowing buses to operate to and from the Kotel on Shabbat. 

The rickety Bennett-Lapid coalition government, which ruled the country from the spring of 2021 until the spring of 2022, included anti-Orthodox leftists eager to tamper with the status quo of religious affairs in Israel. Then Prime Minister Bennett signed coalition agreements with Reform Knesset members advocating to expedite the Reform agenda, pushing to change the kashrut and conversion laws, to permit hametz in the hospitals on Pesach, to create the Reform platform at the Kotel, and establish a budgeted government office to promote the leftist agenda in Israeli society.  

Although the Bennet-Lapid government has now fallen and is being replaced by a right-wing government with religious political parties, Mati and Oren warn that the threat to the soul of the Jewish State remains. Leftist movements, they say, have successfully infiltrated the Israeli government offices through strategic planning and a great deal of finding for their cause. The Libah Yehudit organization is reaching out to Torah-committed Jews throughout the world, imploring them to recognize the threat and join together to protect the sanctity of the Land of Israel. 

Infiltrating the Public Education System 

Already in the 1990s, the Reform movement understood that one of the most influential ways to change Israel is by introducing and disseminating its liberal, anti-Torah value system via the country’s education system. They therefore developed a strategy to infiltrate Israel’s Ministry of Education by slowly staffing senior Education Ministry positions with their own trained professionals, and taking charge of the textbooks and curriculums in the Israel public school system, that educates a majority of Jewish Israeli children. 

Many different foundations that promote the leftist agenda in the Jewish world donated money towards programs to infiltrate Israel’s education system. The Libah Yehudit organization has discovered that the Mandel Foundation – established by the Mandel family, which also happens to be a major donor to the Reform Movement – began a training program back in 1990 aimed at staffing 1,500 of the most influential positions in Israel’s education system, in order to change Israeli society. Today, 32 years later, they have succeeded in filling 500 of those influential positions with professionals that they trained with their pedagogical methods and materials. Each year, 20 experienced Israeli education professionals were carefully selected to join their exclusive educational training program to then be placed back into the education system, filling influential positions. One example is Itzik Danziger, Vice President of the stridently left-wing New Israel Fund, who today runs Matach, one of the leading educational resource institutions run by Israel’s Ministry of Education. 

A second tactic, as mentioned, is exerting control over textbooks and other materials used to teach about Judaism in Israeli secular public schools.  Previously, the materials used for teaching Jewish studies were based on authentic Torah Judaism. Today, however, according to Libah Yehudit’s research, 83 percent of the schoolbooks used in the Israeli education system were written by leftist organizations. The leftist organization with the most schoolbooks in the classrooms is the Conservative Movement’s Tali Foundation, which has produced all the books used in the first and second grades. Very few books written from the perspective of traditional Torah Judaism are used today in Israeli schools. Instead, schoolchildren are being taught anti-Torah, leftist values, such as the belief that it is acceptable for families to have two fathers or two mothers, or one non-Jewish parent. Children are also told that they can choose their gender. These troubling trends are unfolding with the active participation of government institutions that liberal movements have infiltrated through programming, funding, and staffing. 

Even more alarmingly, an increasing amount of school time is dedicated to teaching Jewish Israeli school children about Islam and Christianity, at the expense of time spent teaching them about their own religion, traditions and holidays. 

A third means by which this agenda is being implemented is informal education programs. The Libah Yehudit organization’s research uncovered many external organizations that are used to provide informal educational programs to Israeli schools. A vast majority of these organizations are associated with leftwing movements, while very few are associated with Orthodox Judaism. The Tali Foundation’s website proudly takes credit for developing the entire Jewish culture curriculum with Israel’s Ministry of Education. They are making a concerted effort to replace the instruction of authentic Torah tradition with the dissemination of anti-Torah, leftist values. 

The Libah Yehudit organization has found that many politicians in the right-wing and religious parties are unaware of these unsettling trends. As such, Libah Yehudit warns against complacency in the wake of the new right-wing, religious government that is currently being formed. To the country, with the advent of a ruling coalition with religious parties, the leftist movements are more driven than ever to fight to push their agenda forward, as they did during previous governments that included right-wing and religious parties. 

Facts on the Ground 

The liberal movements operate by slowly and stealthily creating facts on the ground, which then become very difficult to change. 

For example, government policy did not allow replacing on official government forms the fields for father and mother by “parent 1” and “parent 2.” Leftist movements managed to have this policy overturned by wielding influence in the IDF to have the official army forms changed. Once these forms were changed, government ministries followed suit, and started making these changes, as well. After all, a policy valid enough for the army should be valid for government ministries. 

The good news is that a majority of Israeli parents – even secular Israeli parents – oppose this anti-Torah agenda in the Israeli public schools. Just several months ago, a Knesset committee hearing was held, protesting the fact that Islam and Christianity were given more time and lessons in school than traditional Judaism, and that the Judaism being taught is leftist values camouflaged as Judaism. One of the main speakers chosen to speak at this special hearing was a non-religious Israeli Jewish mother.  

This silent majority is being outmaneuvered by the leftist movements, which are well-funded, have developed a careful strategy, and enjoy the sympathy and support of the academic community, the media and the courts. The Torah community is largely in the dark about these activities, which have therefore met with little pushback. Until now. 

The Lone Voices to Protect Us 

A number of passionate, determined activists in Israel who have long recognized this threat to the Jewish character of the Jewish State have now mobilized to confront it. 

The Libah Yehudit organization was founded in 2013 with the stated mission to strengthen the Jewish identity of the State of Israel – from the sanctity of Shabbat, to the sanctity of the Jewish family, to the sanctity of the Kotel. Recognizing the threats posed by those seeking to undermine the Jewish character of the State, Libah Yehudit set out to combat those dangers and ensure that the world’s only Jewish State remains connected to Jewish tradition and Jewish values.  

“The Reform want to make our Jewish country into ‘a country for all citizens’ without any Jewish identity,” says Oren Honig, director of Libah Yehudit. “If we do not fight back and involve the public, we will lose our Jewish country. For the Reform, the Kotel is the Archimedean point, the springboard to change the whole country. If their power at the Kotel is legitimized, they will demand authority over conversions, marriage, kashrut, and education.” 

Reform MK Gilad Kariv and the Reform movement understand that once they gain a foothold at the Kotel, they will gain control throughout Israel. Honig explains that the Reform are trying to attract the Mesorti movement (which parallels the Conservative movement here in the U.S.) and secular Israelis who do not understand the dangers of the Reform agenda. Large amounts of funding have enabled the Reform to advance their agenda in Israel’s government, the Israeli media, and in the Supreme Court.  

Libah Yehudit works tirelessly to inform the Israeli public and to obstruct this effort via various methods, such as extensive lobbying in the Knesset, and careful reviewing of proposed legislation. The organization’s Rosh Hodesh Kotel initiative recruits and provides buses for over a thousand yeshiva and seminary students, and men and women from all over Israel, to come to pray at the 7am shaharit service at the Kotel every month on Rosh Hodesh, filling the Kotel plaza. This prevents the monthly publicity stunt by the fringe “Women of the Wall” group from achieving their desired photo-op while desecrating the sanctity of the Kotel. 

Oren Honig consulted on the matter with leading Torah luminaries such as Rav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, and Rav Gershon Edelstein, shelit”a. These sages urged Oren to mobilize large numbers and fill the Kotel plaza in order to preserve the kedushah (sanctity) of the site. Through the organization’s hard work, buses brought thousands of men, women, yeshiva boys and seminary girls from throughout Israel who prayed peacefully at the Kotel. Their presence allowed no room for the “Women of the Wall” and heads of the Reform movement to execute their plans at the Kotel Plaza. 

“They Need to be More Involved” 

As founder and Chairman of Yeshivat Ateret Cohanim in the Muslim Quarter, Mati Dan has been working since 1977 to build up the Jewish presence in the Old City. He also recognized the threats of the Reform movement, especially its attempts to undermine the sanctity of the Kotel. Mati has spent the last number of years gathering a cadre of top-notch lawyers to advocate on behalf of maintaining the status quo at the sacred site. Facing off against leftist judges is a daunting challenge, requiring huge amounts of time, energy and legal fees. 

“The Reform do not come to pray; only to obtain legitimacy,” Mati explains. “Behind the Kotel campaign is their desire to start a revolution against everything that is holy in Eretz Yisrael – marriage, conversions, kashrut, and education. To fight against this, we need to mobilize Jews both in Israel and in the Diaspora who care and understand the Reform movement’s intentions and are willing to stop it. This involves PR initiatives to educate the public about who the Reform are and what their goals are. In Israel, there is very little knowledge of who the Reform are. American Jews understand. They need to be more involved and have a louder voice.”  

Mati is fighting the battle in the courts. When the “Women of the Wall” go to the courts to sue for the right to turn the Kotel into a Reform temple, Mati retains top lawyers to fight on behalf of the sanctity of the Kotel. 

“The Israeli courts are mostly liberal and have an agenda,” Mati explains. “If you do not appear in court, you lose. If you sit quietly, the judges will believe that the Reform demands do not bother people. If it really mattered to them, they would rise up and send 100 lawyers to oppose the Reform movement’s demands.” 

Mati warns that without waging a fierce battle in the courts, the Reform movement will succeed in defiling the kedushah of the Kotel and of Eretz Yisrael generally. 

A Call for Help 

Chayim Rabinovitz, director of SaveOurKotel.Org, who is helping to organize this campaign, is calling upon Orthodox Jewry throughout the world to support the efforts of Mati Dan and the Libah Yehudit Organization to fight against the woke leftists. 

“The only way to stop the Reform agenda is with true unity, with the Jews of Eretz Yisrael joining with Jews around the world,” Chayim says. He explains that if Torah Jewry comes together to help fund the efforts of Libah Yehudit, Mati Dan’s litigation expenses, and Libah Yehudit’s PR efforts, the leftists can be denied a critical foothold in Israel’s bureaucracy. 

“With the ahdut [unity] of all Jews for the kedushah of the Torah, the kedushah of the Kotel, the kedushah of Eretz Yisrael and the kedushah of the Jewish Nation, we can fight back and, b’Ezrat HaShem, be victorious.” 

SaveOurKotel.Org, Libah Yehudit, and Mati Dan’s initiatives are endorsed by the leading Torah sages of our generation. Both Chief Rabbis – Hacham Yitzchak Yosef, shelit”a, and Rabbi David Lau, shelit”a – have written letters endorsing the cause and urging all to contribute. 

The first of many scheduled meetings was held on November 20th  at Shaarei Zion With Rabbi Yaakov Ben Haim at the forefront, together with Rabbi Uziel Admoni. 

Rabbi Admoni stated, “If we do not take immediate action now, recognize the dangers of the reform, and take united actions by helping Libah Yehudit fight the evil anti-Torah reform agenda, we will cry later. The dangers affect the children in the U.S. as well, especially in the Yeshivot and via social media. We must join and help Libah Yehudit in the fight for Torah values.”

Funds are needed urgently for this campaign, and the activists are turning to us for our assistance and support. For more information and to donate, please visit saveourkotel.org.

Avi Abelow is a writer for PulseofIsreal.com and IsraelUnwired.com 

Frances Haddad 

When December comes around, moms throughout the world start thinking about Hanukah. In preparation for the Festival of Lights they begin polishing their menorahs, digging up the dreidels, and buying ingredients for potato latkes. And when the long-awaited eight-day holiday finally begins, the Hanukah lights fill Jewish homes everywhere with that certain special glow that has the power to break through even the coldest and darkest nights of winter. Year after year, the Hanukah candles bring warmth and joy to our homes.  

Beautiful Hanukah lights also require vigilance, and fire safety precautions must be strictly observed. Being mindful of how to minimize risk and remain safe allows us to feel secure while the oil and candles burn and this helps us to maximize the special joy of Hanukah.   

LIGHT ON A SAFE SURFACE 

Consider the surface you will be lighting your menorah on. Make sure it is nonflammable. Tables or stands made of metal, glass, or marble are fine. Stay away from wood, as it is a serious fire hazard. 

Make sure the table that you want to mount your menorah on is sturdy, and is not flimsy or shaky. And to be extra safe, place an aluminum cookie sheet beneath the menorah to ensure that if a candle or spark falls, it will go out right away. 

KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS 

Once the surface has been chosen, check the area where you plan to light to ensure safety. Make sure that nothing nearby could, Gd forbid, catch on fire, such as drapes, books, papers, napkins, or towels. If you see anything  that may pose a fire risk, move it out of the way! Also, make sure that the menorah is located in a place where it will not be knocked over by people passing by, by a gust of wind from a nearby window, or from something from a high shelf or surface falling on top of it. 

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN 

Children love to run, jump, skip, hop, and climb on things. But those things should never be done near a lit menorah. So, before the candles are actually lit, teach your children about fire safety. Tell them that twisting, turning, and jumping near the menorah can be dangerous. Show them how to stand calmly near the menorah, and have them take turns practicing. Then, place your menorah on a surface that is too high for young children to reach. If that is not possible, continue reminding your children not to enter the room where the menorah is lit, or block the doorway with chairs or another object that will serve as a reminder. And after lighting the menorah, do not leave any lighters or matches lying around. Stow them away immediately.  

STAY WITH IT 

You may be itching to get out to a Hanukah party or other event, but leaving flames unattended is dangerous. Have someone within view of the menorah, or light later on in the evening when you know you will have time to be attentive yourself. 

LATKES AND SUFGANIYOT, PIPING HOT 

One of the trademarks of Hanukah is delicacies that are fried in oil, commemorating the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days and nights. The children may ask to fry foods with you, but hot pots and boiling oil are not something to play around with. The kids can eat the foods when you are done frying, but while you are working, insist that they stand back. If they really want to make Hanukah desserts, let them do a safe baking project, like whipping up some Hanukah cupcakes.   

When you are frying, make sure your sleeves are rolled up and your hair is pulled back. If possible, wear oven mitts to protect your hands from jumping droplets of scalding oil. And never, ever, ever cover a pot of boiling oil! Covering a pot of oil creates a pressure-cooker effect, which can cause an explosion, spewing hot oil, which can potentially start a fire. 

Follow these simple precautions, and you and your family can enjoy a happy, festive, and SAFE holiday!