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THE NEWSPAPER OF LONG ISLAND’S ORTHODOX COMMUNITIES
CHANUKAH MIRACLE
Alan Gross is free in deal to restart US-Cuba relations called him a humanitarian and an By Jessica Gresko, AP Alan Gross has called himself a idealist, someone who was “prob“trusting foolâ€? for going to Cuba in ably naĂŻveâ€? and did not realize the risks of going to Cuba the ďŹ rst place. Family as a subcontractor for and friends described the federal governhim with other words: ment’s U.S. Agency gregarious and outgofor International Deing, with a talent for velopment. picking up and playGross was arrested ing any musical instruin 2009 while workment. ing in the CommunistGross, 65, was run country to set up freed from prison Internet access for the Wednesday as part of island’s small Jewish an agreement that incommunity, access cluded the release of that bypassed local three Cubans jailed in restrictions and monithe United States, ofďŹ toring. Cuba considcials said. Continued on page 4 His wife Judy has $ODQ *URVV
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Once challenged, public lightings now routine on LI, countrywide
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By Sean Savage, JNS.org Publicly displayed menorahs have become commonplace in the U.S.; many Long Island communities, from the Five Towns to the Hamptons (not to mention Flatbush and Queens) light nightly in the public square. This was not always the case. The debate over public displays of religion has been a longstanding one, despite numerous legal rulings in favor of the displays. For Jews, the increasing inclusion of the Chanukah menorah and other Jewish symbols in the pantheon of American civic and religious discourse highlights their mainstream acceptance in society. According to Chabad-Lubavitch, whose giant menorahs and car-rooftop menorahs signal that the holiday season has arrived in many communities, the ďŹ rst public menorah lighting occurred in Philadelphia in 1974 near the Liberty Bell, and the tradition spread when the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader, Rebbe Menachem M. Schneerson, issued a directive encouraging menorah lightings in public places. In line with the movementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous zeal and grassroots initiatives, Chabad eventually launched a global menorah campaign, and today there are thousands of Chabadled menorah lightings. Continued on page 19