How 5 Yeshivah Students Are Spreading Light Along the West Coast

by Shalom Goodman – chabad.org

Five yeshivah students from Yeshivas Ohr Elchonon Chabad in Los Angeles are utilizing their Chanukah break to spread light along the West Coast. They are in the midst of 3,000-mile trek in a rented RV (dubbed a mitzvah tank) outfitted with large signs and an oversized menorah, with the mission of spreading Chanukah warmth and light all along their path.

They began their trip on Tuesday in Los Angeles, where they joined the annual Chanukah parade of 150 cars topped with menorahs on their roofs. The group of five are now in the midst of a trip that will include seven cities, from Los Angeles to Tacoma, Wash.

The group drove through the night, reaching Alameda, Calif., early Wednesday morning, where they met the local Chabad emissary, Rabbi Meir Shmotkin. They helped the rabbi distribute menorahs and hot latkes to locals.

“Our community is so lucky to have these high-spirited students bring the Chanukah light and spirit to our island city of Alameda,” Shmotkin told Chabad.org.

Leaving Alameda, the group arranged with Rabbi Mendy Zweibel, Chabad emissary of Chico, Calif., to travel to nearby Redding, Calif. (population 90,000). There, they will become the impromptu Chabad emissaries for the day since there is no local Chabad presence. They plan to visit homes of Jewish families, bringing holiday cheer along with menorahs and latkes—some comfort after the recent Carr Fire swept through Redding this summer, killing eight and destroying more than 1,000 homes.

From there, they will travel further north into Oregon, where they will visit communities in Ashland and Eugene.

On Friday morning, they plan to travel to Issaquah, Wash., where they will perform a Chanukah play for local Jewish children.

They will leave Issaquah in time to spend Shabbat in Seattle and lead a post-Shabbat car-menorah parade.

On Sunday, they plan to visit a Hebrew school in Pierce County, Wash., where they will act out the Chanukah story. Afterwards, they will visit Joint Base Lewis–McChord, a U.S. military facility located outside of Tacoma. The visit was arranged by Chabad Rabbi Michoel Harari, a U.S. Army chaplain stationed in the region. The students will join a barbecue at the rabbi’s house, followed by a public menorah-lighting at the synagogue, joining the Jewish servicemen and servicewomen in the Chanukah festivities.

“There are many Jewish servicemen who are pumped and looking forward to the visit,” Harari told Chabad.org. “One man told me that he’s amazed that these young men used their vacation time to visit him and fellow Jews in far-off Fort Lewis.”

On their return trip south, they’ll stop in Chico, where they will join Zweibel in bringing cheer and hope to the many people who have been affected by the November Camp Fire that just ravaged the nearby town of Paradise.

Student Mendel Kalmanson, originally from Mason, Ohio, told Chabad.org, “California has been hit mightily as of late, with wildfires and resulting mudslides. We decided to bring our youthful energy to bring joy to as many people as possible.

“While we’re on our journey, people will see the mitzvah tank, and hopefully, it will bring them joy—a moment of respite from the tough times they are facing. If we can brighten even a dozen lives along the way, it would be more than worth it!”