Clinton Township Newsletter

1 8 d e c e m b e r 2 0 2 0 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M t h s h o l i d a y g i F t s a l e a n d t a g s a l e – 1 2 / 1 2 o r 1 3 ; 1 2 / 1 9 & 2 0 The Tewksbury Historical Society will hold its Annual Holiday Gift Sale at the Oldwick Carriage House, 5 James Street in Oldwick, 08858, on the weekends of December 12 (with a Snow Date on December 13) and December 19 and 20. Hours are: 12/12 and 12/13: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm; 12/19:, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and 12/20: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Due to COVID19, this year the sale has been moved from THS Headquarters in Mountainville to the heated Carriage House, with COVID19 requirements of masks and social distancing in place. Buyers will be able to purchase THS items normally found at Headquarters. Among the items for sale are Tewksbury afghans in Cranberry Red, Hunter Green and Navy Blue, Tewksbury Church notecards and post cards depicting original historic scenes, Tewksbury Auto-tour Books and Tewksbury Art Show T-Shirts. Also available are hardcover and paperback editions of Historic Notes on Fairmount, NJ by Freeman Leigh, signed and unsigned prints of Tewksbury, "A River Runs Through It", by Elizabeth "Lib" Ryman and both unmatted and matted (while supplies last) prints depicting scenes in Mountainville, Pottersville and Califon by Linda Jean. Select Mountainville prints are also signed by longtime resident Charles Burrell. The Tewksbury Antique Show is a victim of COVID 19 and will not be held this year. Therefore, in addition to its THS items, the Historical Society will sell the remaining treasures from its Fall Tag Sales at a 50% discount. This is an opportunity for those patrons who considered items but chose not to purchase them previously may find them still available. For those who have not attended the sales, there are numerous antique chairs, mirrors, lamps, a bedframe, desk, china, glassware, crystal, silver, linens, costume jewelry, Christmas items and more. The items may fill Christmas gift lists. Society membership is open to anyone interested in the history of Tewksbury Township. Members receive a quarterly newsletter and advance notice of all programs and events the Society holds throughout the year. The Society holds three regular meetings per year on the 3rd Sunday in January, March, and May with a 4th being the Covered Dish Supper with program. Due to Covid 19 all of these events were cancelled in 2020. It is hoped that 2021 will bring a return of many, if not all, of these events. The Tewksbury Historical Society is a New Jersey not-for-profit corporation and was organized for the purpose of furthering research into and the preservation and dissemination of the history of the Township of Tewksbury. The Society requests donations of documents, records and small artifacts related to Tewksbury's History. Society information is found on its website: www.TewksburyHhistory.net "Yesterday ended last night, today is a brand new day. And it's yours." ~ Zig Ziglar W h a t i s h a n u k k a h ? from The Chabad of Hunterdon County www.JewishHunterdon.com Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime "festival of lights," celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. The Hebrew word Chanukah means "dedication," and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple (as you'll read below). Also spelled "Hanukkah" (or variations of that spelling), the Hebrew word is actually pronounced with a guttural, "kh" sound, kha-nu-kah, not tcha-new-kah. What Chanukah Commemorates: In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in G-d. Against all odds, a small band of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G-d. When they sought to light the Temple's Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity. To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. How Chanukah Is Observed: At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting. The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash ("attendant"), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. On the first night, we light just one flame. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Chanukah, all eight lights are kindled. Special blessings are recited, often to a traditional melody, before the menorah is lit, and traditional songs are sung afterward. A menorah is lit in every household (or even by each individual within the household) and placed in a doorway or window. The menorah is also lit in synagogues and other public places. In recent years, thousands of jumbo menorahs have cropped up in front of city halls and legislative buildings, and in malls and parks all over the world. We recite the special Hallel prayer daily, and add V'Al HaNissim in our daily prayers and in the Grace After Meals, to offer praise and thanksgiving to G-d for "delivering the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few ... the wicked into the hands of the righteous." When Is Chanukah? Chanukah begins on the eve of Kislev 25 and continues for eight days. On the civil calendar, it generally coincides with the month of December. Chanukah 2020 runs from December 10-18. What It Means For Each Person: Noting that one should spend time in close proximity to the Chanukah lights, the Previous Rebbe would say, "We must listen carefully to what the candles are saying." So what are the flickering flames telling us? Here are some messages: a. Never be afraid to stand up for what's right. Judah Maccabee and his band faced daunting odds, but that didn't stop them. With a prayer on their lips and faith in their heart, they entered the battle of their lives—and won. We can do the same. b. Always increase in matters of goodness and Torah-observance. Sure, a single flame was good enough for yesterday, but today needs to be even better. c. A little light goes a long way. The Chanukah candles are lit when dusk is falling. Perched in the doorway, they serve as a beacon for the darkening streets. No matter how dark it is outside, a candle of G-dly goodness can transform the darkness itself into light. d. Take it to the streets. Chanukah is unique in that its primary mitzvah is observed in public. It's not enough to be a Jew at heart, or even at home. Chanukah teaches us to shine outwards into our surroundings with the G-dly glow of mitzvahs. e. Don't be ashamed to perform mitzvahs, even if you will feel different. Rather, be like a menorah, proudly proclaiming its radiant uniqueness for all to see. Do you have more questions? Ask The Rabbi at: www.jewishhunterdon. com/asktherabbi/default_cdo/jewish/Ask-the-Rabbi.htm.

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