Chanukah for soldiers
"The story of Chanukah is one of a victory of a rebel fighting force. It shows us that sometimes in order to preserve life and one's way of life, you have to fight," says Alex Ryvchin.
A Chanukah party was hosted by Jewish chaplaincy at the Heritage Centre on Garden Island, Kuttabul base, Sydney, last Wednesday, attended by Jewish army personnel, Sydney Jewish leaders and members of the NSW Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (NAJEX).
Senior rabbi to the ADF Rabbi Ralph Genende emceed the event and spoke about the festival of Chanukah as sharing messages of light and Jewish pride in a time of crisis. He also spoke about how support within the ADF for the Jewish community’s trauma and angst is healing and helpful.
ECAJ co-CEO Alex Ryvchin gave an impassioned speech.
“The story of Chanukah is one of a victory of a rebel fighting force. It shows us that sometimes in order to preserve life and one’s way of life, you have to fight,” he said.
“Today, on the eve of our festival of lights, the Jewish people around the world feel little mood to celebrate. Today, we are wounded from the infliction of the greatest atrocity against our people since the Holocaust.
“And so today, is a time for war. A just and necessary war, against evil manifest. A generational evil that cannot be reasoned with or placated. An evil that must be destroyed,” Ryvchin said.
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