Los Angeles, CA, April 19 — This Friday night, Jewish women on college campuses across America will join together to dispel the darkness of the Virginia Tech tragedy with the shining light of Shabbat candles.
Rabbi Ari Baitelman, Director of Chabad’s FridayLight project, said that both public candle-lighting events and more private prayer vigils will be held on campuses nationwide at 18 minutes before sundown on Friday, April 20.
More in the Extended Article!
Nationwide Candle-Lighting Memorial On Campus
Los Angeles, CA, April 19 — This Friday night, Jewish women on college campuses across America will join together to dispel the darkness of the Virginia Tech tragedy with the shining light of Shabbat candles.
Rabbi Ari Baitelman, Director of Chabad’s FridayLight project, said that both public candle-lighting events and more private prayer vigils will be held on campuses nationwide at 18 minutes before sundown on Friday, April 20.
More in the Extended Article!
“Many students want to hold a memorial for all those killed in this terrible event, and want to show their concern for their brothers and sisters at Virginia Tech,” said Baitelman. “There is a universal feeling of despair as these innocent young lives were cut short, but we can share the light of hope as the Shabbat candles chase away the darkness.”
The widow of slain Virginia Tech professor Liviu Librescu is encouraging Jewish women to light Shabbat candles in her husband’s memory. Marlene Librescu told Rabbi Shlomo Mayer from Chabad of the University of Virginia, “My husband loved this mitzvah, and he would remind me when the sun was going down on Friday and that it was time to light.” Friday’s candle-lighting memorial marks the start of a week-long effort by Chabad to encourage people to perform acts of goodness and kindness.
Through generations, in good times and bad, the Shabbat candle has symbolized peace and harmony. As students kindle the lights together, they will rejoice in the goodness of man and unite to bring a more positive spirit into the world. The traditional candle-lighting time is 18 minutes before sundown.
FridayLight is distributing thousands of Shabbat candle kits for the April 20 event. Rabbi Baitelman encourages interested participants to stop by their local Chabad center on campus or visit www.fridaylight.org for a free kit.
This intercollegiate effort is sponsored by the Chabad on Campus International Foundation (Chabad.edu), FridayLight (Fridaylight.org), and Chabad’s national network of on-campus student centers, which are listed online at Chabad.edu.
“Everyone is invited join us in this universal gesture so that we respond to this tragedy in a positive way,” said Baitelman. “As we remember those who lost their lives, let’s also strive to replace violence with peace, sadness with hope, and darkness with light.”
touched
Very nice Rabbi Ari, beautifully said.
sara
Wht about those who light already? Do we add a candle, or what?
VERY TOUCHED
THATS SO NICE!!! IT FILLS MY HEART WITH HAPPINESS TO SEE HOW GREAT PEOPLE STAND UP TO DO SOMETHING EXTREMELY POSOTIVE TO REPLACE THE EXTREME SORROW, PAIN, AND ANGUISH. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO ABOUT IT. YOU INSPIRE ME
– I AM NOT SAYING I AM NOT SURPRISED, KNOWING THE LUBAVITCH COMUNITY AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR!!
CHANI
KOL HAKAVOD!!
Boruch ben Tzvi HaKohaine Hoffinger
B”H
Beautiful!
However, who’s to say it won’t happen again? Probably it will—there’s plenty of precedent for it.
A. Lack of spirituality (Unity) in schools (No moment of silence and, according to Supreme Ct. Judge Scalia there is a rebellion against G-d in America) B. Easy access to very dangerous weapons C. Mixing of the sexes before marriage D. Liberal ‘therapists’ (The murder was considered a danger to himself but was not constrained in any way). If you’re a danger to someone else, that’s bad–yourself, not bad. Aren’t they intertwined?
The CHer on the west coast
GO ARI!!
Ker A Velt
to sara
i would assume you don’t add one but have in mind VT while you’re lighting. I’m not the authority though ;)
Gaby
sara: You can encourage others to start lighting
Someone
Nice job Ari!!