B"H

Thursday, Kislev 21, 5776 / December 3, 2015 – HAKHEL YEAR

The Torah portion this Shabbat is Parshat Vayeishev. It tells the story of how Joseph, who was 17, was sold by his brothers to a caravan of Ishmaelites, who eventually sold him to an Egyptian. From Joseph’s coming to Egypt until the Jewish Exodus from Egypt was a period of 232 years.

There are 613 mitzvot in the Torah. In addition there are seven rabbinic mitzvot, for a total of 620 mitzvot. The mitzvah of Chanukah, which begins Sunday night, is one of the seven rabbinical mitzvot.  

In addition to the mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah lights at home, they are also lit in the synagogue.

Q.  If everyone lights at home, why are the candles also lit in the synagogue?

A. There are a few reasons: 1) For travelers who are away from home and have nowhere to light their Chanukah lights. They perform the mitzvah by listening to the blessings of the menorah in synagogue. However, one who can light at home does not fulfill the mitzvah with the synagogue candles.  

2)  The Chanukah candles commemorate the miracle of the lights which took place in the HolyTemple. Today, after the destruction of the Holy Temple, the synagogue represents the Temple. In fact a synagogue is called a “miniature Temple.” In commemoration of the menorah lights in the Temple, we light the Chanukah candles in the synagogue.

3)  Not everyone lives in a place where they have the ability to light the candles. This was especially true when Jews were persecuted and were afraid to light at home because of their gentile neighbors. Thus, the rabbis instituted the custom to light the Chanukah menorah in the synagogue.

Q. At home the menorah is placed near a door or window. But the menorah in the synagogue is placed on the south side.  Why?

A.  At home we place the menorah near a window in order to publicize the miracle of Chanukah to the outside. In the synagogue we place it on the south side to remember the menorah in the Temple, which stood in the sanctuary on the south side.

Q.   Why are we prohibited from having any personal use from the Chanukah lights?

A.  The Chanukah candles represent the candles of the menorah which were lit each day in the Holy Temple.  All objects of the Holy Temple were holy and one was not permitted to have any personal use from them. So too, we are prohibited to have any use from the Chanukah candles which represent the candles in the Temple

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 3:53 / Shabbat ends: 5:01