B"H
Tuesday, Kislev 26, 5782 / November 30, 2021
HAPPY SECOND DAY CHANUKAH. The second day of Chanukah teaches us that we must not be satisfied with yesterday’s achievements, rather we should add additional light every day. If yesterday one candle was enough, today we must add more light.
At a Chassidic gathering where people were celebrating one of the holidays, they ran out of wine to say Lechayim. One of the Chassidim went down to the cellar to get more wine. When he came into the cellar it was very dark and he couldn’t see his way around.
He shouted up to the people upstairs that it was very dark. Someone said to him, “If you stay a little longer you will get used to the darkness and it won’t be so dark anymore.
Said Reb Hillel, one of the great Chassidim, “That’s the problem… when one stays in the dark too long, they think that it’s not dark anymore. One must differentiate between dark and light… Never to think that darkness is light. Better for one to recognize that they are in the dark than to mistake darkness for light…
Chanukah teaches us that we shouldn’t confuse darkness for light, rather to kindle a light and illuminate the darkness.
Darkness and light are not only in the physical sense, it also applies in a spiritual sense. Purpose and guidance in life is light, as one knows where they are going and has direction. Whereas no purpose and no direction is darkness.
Torah is compared to light. Our sages say, “Even a small light will push away much darkness.” The lesson of the Chanukah lights is that even a small amount of Torah each day, goes a long way.
Q. In the prayer recited after the lighting of the Chanukah candles we say, "During all eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make use of them". What is the reason that we are not permitted to have any personal use of the Chanukah lights?
A. The Chanukah candles commemorate the lights of the menorah in the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple). One was prohibited to have any personal use of the holy objects of the Beth Hamikdash. Being that the Chanukah candles represent the lights of the Beth Hamikdash we are not to derive any personal benefit from them either.
Q. Why do we light an extra candle each night, called the "Shamesh," with which we light the Chanukah candles and is later placed in the menorah apart from the Chanukah candles?
A. As mentioned above, we are prohibited to have any personal use from the Chanukah lights. Thus, by having the extra candle, if we forget and enjoy the light of the menorah, it will be from the "Shamesh."
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
B"H
Wednesday, Kislev 27, 5782 / December 1, 2021
HAPPY CHANUKAH.
It is that time of the year again, when we have our Annual Chanukah Torah Fax fund-raising Campaign.
Chanukah is a time of sharing and giving.
Your contribution will help us continue to enlighten, educate, and bring our beautiful heritage and tradition to Jews all over the world. It will also help us with our Sunshine Senior Citizens programs, through which we bring friendship and joy to seniors, especially at the time of the holidays. This year has been a very difficult one for us all, especially for seniors.
We offer you a share in this wonderful mitzvah.
To contribute by mail: please make your check payable to: Torah Fax (Chanukah Campaign).
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In the merit of this mitzvah, may G-d brighten your life and bless you and your loved ones with long life, good health, much success and Nachas.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
Rabbi Zalmen Marozov
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B"H
Thursday, Kislev 28, 5782 / December 2, 2021
Happy fourth day of Chanukah.
Two great miracles happened on Chanukah. 1) The winning of the war against the mighty armies of our enemies. 2) Finding the jar of oil, with the seal of the High Priest, which was barely enough for one day, yet, miraculously lasted eight days.
In the Al Hanisim prayer of Chanukah we thank G-d for the victory of the war against the Syrian-Greek mighty armies. We thank G-d for the miracle of winning the war in which, "Strong fell in the hands of the weak; many into the hands of the few..."
Q. We understand how the lighting of the menorah on Chanukah, commemorates the miracle of the oil. But how does the lighting of the Menorah also celebrate the miracle of winning the war?
A. Our sages tell us that the war against the Jewish people, at the time of Chanukah, was not only physical, but also spiritual. Jews were prohibited to study Torah and observe the mitzvot which connect us to G-d. Had Jews given up the practice of Torah and mitzvot they would have been spared. The war was against the Jewish soul; i.e. the observance of Torah and mitzvot.
In Scriptures we read that the soul is compared to a candle; "The candle of G-d is the soul of man." Mitzvot and Torah are also compared to a candle and light.
As a result, the sages established to celebrate the miracles of Chanukah with the lighting of candles. For it not only celebrates the miracle of the oil in the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple), but it also commemorates the victory of the war which was against the Jewish soul (the candle of G-d) and the victory of Torah and mitzvot, which are also compared to light.
The Chanukah lights, which represent the Torah and mitzvot, are lit near a window at nightfall. It is our duty and obligation to bring this spiritual light also to the outside world and thus to illuminate the spiritual darkness on the outside.
Our sages say that the quality of light is so great that even a small amount of light can drive away lots of darkness. When it’s pitch black one cannot see even something right in front of them. One can be standing next to a life-threatening object or situation and not be aware of it in the dark. Yet even a small amount of light coming from a small candle can make one aware of the danger and make the difference between life and death, G-d forbid.
The purpose of lighting the candles near a window each night of Chanukah is to illuminate its darkness. The Chanukah candles teach us that to go through life, with its many crossroads and hazards and come out at the other end in safety; we have to keep our headlights on.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
B"H
Friday, Kislev 29, 5782 / December 3, 2021
Happy fifth day of Chanukah!This Shabbat is Rosh Chodesh and Chanukah. As a result, we read from three Torahas. In the first we read the Shabbat reading, Parshat Mikeitz. In the second Torah we read about Rosh Chodesh. In the third Torah we read the Chanukah reading.
In connection with the miracle of the oil which we celebrate on Chanukah, here are two other miracles that happened with oil.
First story: In the Book of Kings we find that the wife of one of the prophets came to Elisha and said, "My husband has died and you know that he was G-d fearing. Now the creditor has come to take my two children as slaves because I can't repay the loan."
"Tell me, what do you have in your house?" Elisha asked her. "Only a little jar of oil," she answered.
"Go and borrow as many empty pots as you can from your neighbors. Then go back home, close the door and, with the help of your children, pour the oil from the little jar into the empty pots." She did as the Prophet told her. The children handed her the empty pots and she kept on pouring.
When her son told her that there were no more pots to fill, the little jar of oil became empty. She went back and told Elisha about the miracle. Elisha told her to sell the oil, pay her debt and use the rest for her livelihood.
Second story: In the Talmud we find the following story: One Friday afternoon, Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa saw that his daughter was very upset. "What is the matter?" he asked his daughter.
"It is soon time to light the Shabbat candles, but instead of oil, I mistakenly filled the candelabra with vinegar."
"There is nothing to worry about," said her father. "The one who commanded that oil should burn will command that vinegar will burn. Go light the Shabbat candles!" His daughter lit the wicks which were soaked with vinegar. A miracle occurred and the wicks burnt the entire Shabbat.
In truth, everything in life is a miracle. Miracles happen to each of us every minute of every day, as we recite in the daily Modim prayer, in which we thank G-d for the everyday miracles.
There are two kinds of miracles; There are miracles that contradict and defy the laws of nature, as in the story of Chanukah and in the above two stories. Then there are the miracles which G-d performs within the laws of nature. Chanukah is a reminder that everything, starting with life itself, is a miracle and should not be taken for granted. Realizing this, we would be more thankful and much happier with whatever we have.
SHABBAT SHALOM & HAPPY CHANUKAH
Montreal Shabbat candle lighting time: 3:54 / Shabbat ends: 5:01
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