B"H
Thursday, Kislev 28, 5776 / December 10, 2015 – HAKHEL YEAR
HAPPY 4th day CHANUKAH.
This day of Chanukah is represented by the fourChanukah candles we lit Wednesday night.
Chanukah is unique in that it is a mitzvah to publicize the miracle which took place on this holiday. No other mitzvah do we have to perform in public, like Chanukah.
This is why we light the candles near a window or in a public place, in order to make others aware and publicize the miracle of the oil which took place in the Holy Temple, when a very small amount of olive oil, enough for only one day, lasted full eight days.
One of the important lessons of the Chanukah festival, which is emphasized by the Chanukah lights is the importance of being inclusive rather than exclusive.
We publicizethis mitzvah, so that others will see the Chanukah lights and remember the miracle. In case they don’t know what these candles represent, they will inquire the reason and will become educated about the miracle of Chanukah.
It teaches us that we have to educate others about the beauty and light of the Torah. It is not enough to perform the mitzvah within the comfort of our own home. It is important to include others that they too will become educated with the light of the mitzvot.
Q. Why is it so important to publicize the miracle of Chanukah more than other miracles?
A. The Menorah of the Temple stood inside the Temple and was not visible from the outside. Only the priests (kohanim) were able to see the menorah and realize the great miracle of the oil.
Because the miracle wasn’t visible to everyone, the rabbis declared this mitzvah to be performed in public placesand near the window or door in order compensate for the lack of publicity this miracle had at that time.
Q. The heroes of Chanukah were the Macabees. What does the word "Macabee" mean?
A. Macabeeis an acronym for the words of the Torah: "Mi Kamocha Ba'elim Hashem" - "Who is like you among the powerful, O' G-d". This was their slogan as they went out to war, expressing their complete trust in G-d.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
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In loving memory of Chana bas Yosef Zundel – Angela Bergman – yartzeit is Kislev 30
May her soul-Neshama have an aliya. May her memory be a blessing to her family.
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