Lights, cameras, action
Chabad rabbis in Melbourne are urging the community to support the Lights For Peace campaign during Chanukah to help raise funds for the IDF.
FOLLOWING the success of their Lights for Peace initiative last Chanukah, Chabad rabbis in Melbourne are once again urging members of the community to submit selfies of themselves lighting chanukiahs to help raise funds for the IDF.
The 2015 campaign was such a hit that it took off worldwide, with tens of thousands of pictures posted on Facebook from as far afield as Russia, Argentina, China and France.
With an anonymous donor giving $2 for every selfie submitted, enough money was raised to purchase 320 winter jackets for a platoon of the IDF’s Givati Brigade.
It wasn’t just the soldiers who were grateful. The day after the jackets were distributed by Rabbis Dudu Lieder and Saul Spiegler, the pair were invited to the Knesset where they were personally thanked for their efforts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a number of other politicians from across the political spectrum.
And with all selfie posters entered in a draw to win a trip to Israel to help hand out the jackets, there was an added incentive to get involved.
This Chanukah, the rabbis are hoping to repeat last year’s achievement and are inviting people across the globe to once more help perform the mitzvah of tzedakah simply by uploading their festive photos on Facebook.
To take part, simply snap yourself lighting the chanukiah and upload the picture together with the hashtag #lightforpeace. Make sure to post the picture as public.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/lightforpeace.
YOSSI ARON
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