The candle lighting’s purpose was to show solidarity with Israel and innocent victims of the war against Hamas.
The Chabad House on Main Street in Medford held a Shabbat candle lighting for victims of the savage killing and taking of hostages in Israel by the terrorist group Hamas on Oct. 7.
The Shabbat ceremony on Oct. 13 was to show solidarity with family in Israel. Rabbi Yitzchok Kahan led the candle lighting and shared a positive message for those of the Jewish faith and those living in the war zones.
“Be proud of who you are,” he noted. “Although we are so far, we are close enough by showing our positive actions and positive doings by showing our love.”
The rabbi strongly urged his brothers and sisters to fight here with love.
“Showing our love, that is how we fight negativity,” he explained. “Yes, there are people on the ground who need to get rid of this terrorism. But here, we can fight that with powerful love and good deeds.”
As the women of the Chabad House lit the Shabbat candles 18 minutes before sundown, they also said a prayer for love and light to prevail over hatred and darkness.
Kahan wants to collect donations and supplies for those now caught in war. And as they continue to mourn the innocent lives in the middle of it, Kahan said it’s important to “educate our children, our family, our friends that terrorism is universal.”
“… People can just walk in and savagely massacre thousands of people,” he pointed out, adding that he believes love can conquer all and hopes for a peaceful solution soon.
“There would be peace if Hamas would put down their weapons and stop their crusade,” Kahan said. “However, there would be no Israel if they lowered their defenses. There would be no Israel.”
