Yes, you read it right, I am not hallucinating. According to Hasidic teachings, which is sourced to the Baal Shem Tov, one can wish their friends a G’Mar Tov until the last day of Chanukah - the reason being that the ultimate judgement is not handed out until Chanukah. These are deep Kabalistic mysteries that are way beyond my level of understanding.
What I do know is this: today is the eighth day. Eight in Jewish tradition is always unique, special, and has supernatural properties. Look, for example, at the eighth day for a bris, or the eighth day of a holiday - which is always considered the extra-special day. There is always tremendous power in being above the regular seven-day cycle.
The Baal Shem is quoted as saying that what a righteous Jew can achieve in his greatest prayer on Yom Kippur can be achieved by a “simple” Jew’s prayer on the last day of Chanukah.
So here you go: we have just a few hours left. Let us pray for a better year - one filled with happiness, peace, and good health for us and for the entire world.
About Cantor Benny
Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky serves as Cantor of the prestigious Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Cantor Benny has lectured widely on Cantorial music and its application to prayer. He has taught and guided many of today's well-known cantors. He is involved at the leadership level in many charitable organizations with a unique flair for organization and implementation of community projects. Cantor Benny is one of the founders of FrumDivorce, a community-support organization, dedicated to supporting members of the religious community, who are going through the divorce process, with a specific focus on parenting and guidance on how to deal with the emotional fallout of separation and divorce.
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