Event Highlights Mivtza Neshek

Nshei and Young Nshei Chabad Melbourne commemorated Rebbetzin Chana’s yahrezeit with a beautiful and meaningful evening function.

The theme of the evening was “Lighting up Jewish Homes for Centuries – The power of the Jewish Woman to Illuminate.”

Rabbi Yonason Johnson, Rosh Kolel Menachem Melbourne, addressed the topic in a most informative and inspirational manner. He concluded with a request for the women to undertake a hachloto to be more scrupulous with their candle-lighting especially on time or even early as this is such a special and auspicious time and to share this mitzvah with other women.

Rabbi Johnson’s talk had the women spellbound. One lady commented, “This was the best Nshei function I attended.”

“The candles of Sarah would burn from one Erev Shabbos to the next. Yet at the end of each week they would finally go out, in order to be lit once more and usher in the next Shabbos with even greater light than before,” said Rabbi Johnson.

“Throughout our history these candles, representing the light of Yiddishkeit; of ner mitzvah vTorah or, burned miraculously. Our mothers, with great mesiras nefesh, fought to preserve these flames against the winds which sought to extinguish them. But in our times, late Friday afternoon in the 6000 year history of the world, the candles of Sarah have sadly gone out in so many Jewish homes.

On the eve of the ultimate Shabbos, the Rebbe has charged Nshei Ubnos Chabad with the awesome task of lighting these candles once again, to usher in the Yom shekulo Shabbos. With Mivtzah neshek we ignite the most powerful light of all; not a light which fights to survive the darkness, but the light of Geulah which will transform the darkness entirely,” he concluded.

The women all received candlelighting cards beautifully set and printed by Aviva Turner organized by Riva Cohen. Women enthusiastically took cards to distribute to neighbors and shops to promote Mivtza Neshek.

A highlight of the evening was the musical rendition of three songs, “My Mother’s Shabbos Candles, “A Succale a kleine” and “Sheyiboneh Bais HaMikdash” sung and harmonized to the accompaniment of the guitar, by Stera Gutnick and her daughters Chaya Hoch and Zahava Pinson.

The chairlady Chanal Nakar guided the evening in a wonderful manner, relating personal stories from her grandmother Rebbetzin Devora Groner’s relationship with Rebbetzin Chana.

The decor of the evening was creatively planned and brought to fruition by a team of Chana’s; Chana Kaminetzki and Chana Ruschinek. The Tent of Sara with the special mitzvos of the woman was artistically re-created.

“It was an evening befitting the beauty, dignity and grace of Rebbetzin Chana, may she be a “mlitza yeshora” for all of us,” organizers said.