Jewish Herald-Voice (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 20, 2012 Page: 4 of 24
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Page 4
Jewish Herald-Voice
December 20, 2012
Up Close
Olive Press teaches Jewish history, chemistry
JHV: MICHAEL C. DUKE
Rabbi Mendy Traxler holds onto the olive oil press as Gabby Howard works the crank.
By MICHAEL C. DUKE
What do Chanukah and Texas
have in common?
Oil!
Chabad Outreach of Houston’s
Olive Press traveled across the
city during the week of Chanukah,
educating children and adults, alike,
on how to make olive oil to kindle
the Chanukah lights.
The interactive workshops taught
participants the story of Chanukah,
as well as lessons in chemistry.
The Robert M. Beren Academy
was among the dozen schools that
hosted the Olive Press this year.
Rabbi Mendy Traxler, Chabad
Outreach’s program director,
involved the students in each step of
the cold-press process.
“I liked making the oil and
lighting the menorah,” said Beren
kindergartener, Neriya Zaidel, at
the conclusion of the workshop on
Dec. 13.
Besides schools, the Olive Press
visited the Children’s Museum of
Houston and was featured among the
activities at The Friendship Circle’s
Chanukah party on Dec. 16. The
Friendship Circle brings children and
adults with special needs together
with teen volunteers for social time
and holiday programs.
Friendship Circle member, Rachel
Kaplan, applauded as the menorah
was lit with oil that she helped make.
“The lights are beautiful,” Kaplan
said.
Her friend and teen volunteer,
Stephanie Koren, said, “I enjoyed
seeing how excited Rachel got doing
all the different steps.”
Friendship Circle member,
Gabby Howard, knew the answer
to every question that was asked
about the Chanukah story during the
workshop.
“Chanukah is one of my favorite
holidays,” Howard said.
The Olive Press’ instructor
JHV: MICHAEL C. DUKE
Beren students Alex Schwartz and Neriya
Zaidel help light a menorah using olive oil
that their class pressed.
reveled in the experience.
“To have the availability to bring
people the happiness and joy of the
holiday, it’s very important and very
meaningful,” Rabbi Traxler said.
Rabbi Zally Lazarus, the
Friendship Circle’s program
coordinator, added, “Seeing the
smiles on all the faces when the oil is
lit - that’s what we’re here for.”
Rabbinical students Shmuli Levin
and Boruch Greenberg helped run
the Olive Press workshops. □
“The ability to express
on Chanukah the
celebration, in front of the
seat of government, is a
statement of our ability
to be a Jew in these days,
and how precious it is
to live in America.”
- Rabbi Moishe Traxler
City Hall
From Page 1
will become illuminated,” said Rabbi
Moishe Traxler, executive director of
Chabad Outreach. “It has its fullest
power today. And, what happens
tonight carries through the whole
year.”
The menorah’s placement on the
steps of City Hall is symbolic, Rabbi
Traxler told the JHV.
“City Hall represents the seat of
government. America was founded on
the principles of religious freedom.
The ability to express on Chanukah
the celebration, in front of the seat
of government, is a statement of our
ability to be a Jew in these days, and
how precious it is to live in America,”
he said.
Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff, executive
director of Chabad Lubavitch of
Texas, said the Chanukah menorah
stands as a symbol of freedom of
religion. The Chanukah story, he
said, is a celebration of resolve and
pride.
“I wish you all a happy Chanukah
and a very strong resolve,” Rabbi
Lazaroff said. “G-d bless America!”
Bernice Blum Miller brought
her family to the public menorah
lighting. She was accompanied by
her husband, Steve, their 414-year-
old twin boys, and Bernice’s mother,
Bera Blum, a Holocaust survivor.
“We’re here to enjoy the Chanukah
spirit and to see the kids happy,”
Bernice said. “The menorah reflects
the light that our children give us.”
Joe Epstein, joined by his two
daughters, also was part of the
menorah lighting. Remembered
during the ceremony was Shari
Epstein, the family’s beloved
mother and wife, who tragically was
killed six weeks earlier in an auto-
pedestrian accident.
“We have unprecedented freedoms
in our country,” Joe said, with
daughters, Anna and Jessica at his
side. “Everyone should embrace the
freedoms that we have and embrace
the notion of what Chanukah really
means: It’s not just a miracle, but
it’s a fundamental cleaving to what’s
important to us as Jews.” □
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Samuels, Jeanne F. Jewish Herald-Voice (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 20, 2012, newspaper, December 20, 2012; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth544337/m1/4/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .