Hebrew Institute of White Plains Remembers Israeli Soldiers During Chanukah

Rabbi Chaim Marder hopes some of the Chanukah greetings delivered in White Plains this year will be heard half a world away by soldiers in the Israeli army.

Leader of the , Marder is looking to his congregation for help in repeating a mitzvah he performed a few winters past on a trip to Israel. Visiting in the cold north of that nation, and finding soldiers with an inadequate supply of socks, the rabbi went into a military-supply store and bought them extra pairs, enough to assure the troops would have warm feet.

Now, two of his congregants, Joyce and Ted Besdine of White Plains, are enjoying a visit from their daughter, Rivkah Aviad, who has lived in Israel with her husband for many years. Their son, Eliav—the Besdines’ grandson—has served for almost two years in an Israeli army combat unit.

“He as well as all the soldiers in his unit work day and night protecting Israel,” Marder said. 

The rabbi said he had talked with Rivkah about ways in which she might make her White Plains visit an opportunity for the community to “share our simchat chanukah with these soldiers.”

“The idea we'd like to advance: Inviting you to contribute to a soldiers gift fund,” he wrote in a letter to his congregation.

With the money, Marder said, “the soldiers will receive either a useful gift for cold winter posts—warm socks, a good army knife—or a gift certificate.”

“It’s a small act,” he said, but it will remind people of the soldiers’ service. In Israel, military service is mandatory for every citizen who is 18 or older.

“I'd like to encourage you to send in a contribution made out to the ‘HIWP Tzedaka Fund’ and earmarked for ‘Israeli soldiers' Chanukah gift.’"

He asked that contributions arrive by Chanukah, which begins Tuesday and is celebrated for eight days. 

“With blessings for a joyous Chanukah for you and yours,” Marder said, “and for these special young men protecting the State of Israel.” 

Rabbi Chaim Marder can be reached at 914-948-3095 x306 or Rabbi@hiwp.org

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