B"H

Tuesday, Kislev 26, 5776 / December 8, 2015 – HAKHEL YEAR

HAPPY CHANUKAH. Today is the secondday of Chanukah, which is represented by the twocandles we lit last night (Monday).

In the Talmud there are various opinions as how to perform the mitzvah of the Chanukah candles.

According to the opinion of the rabbis of the House of Shamai, one should light all eight candles the first night of Chanukah, seven on the second night, six on the third night, etc. Thus, lighting one candle less each night, until the last night when we light only one candle.

But we don’t hold by this opinion. We go by the ruling of the House of Hillel who say that the first night we light one candle, the second night two candles, the third night three, etc. Thus, addinga candle each night, until the final night of Chanukah, when we light all eight candles.

The reasoning of the House of Hillel is that when it comes to performing a mitzvah we addand do not subtract. If we would start with eight and then go down to one candle, we would be going from more to less and with mitzvot we do the opposite; from less to more.

Hillel’s ruling was accepted as law and we perform the mitzvah of Chanukah lights by addingan additional candle each night. This way we go up each day with the performance of this mitzvah.

This concept and lesson to go higher and higher in performing mitzvot, is first visible on the second night Chanukah, when we kindle twocandles, thus adding an additional candle from the previous night.  It will become even more prominent as we go through the eight days of Chanukah and add an additional candle each night.

This lesson applies to all good deeds. We must always aspire to do more and more than before. We shouldn’t be satisfied with our past accomplishments, but strive to go higher and higher.

Q.   What is the  significance of the four Hebrew letters on the Dreidel; Nun, Gimel, Hay, Shin?

A.  The four letters on the Dreidel stand for: "Nes, Gadol, Haya, Sham" - "A great miracle happened there." These four letters were usually written for the dreidels in the Diaspora. 

In Israel, the letter "Shin" is substituted with the letter "Pay".  It stands for the Hebrew word "Poh", "Here" ("A great miracle happened here"), for the miracle took place in Israel. 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH

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In loving memory of Sonja Liverant Zaritzky Marcu– Sonia bat Yosef, of blessed memory.

A true Neshama and blessed soul. May her Neshama-soul rest in peace in Gan Eden.