Thursday, Kislev 17, 5784 / November 30, 2023

We are one week from Chanukah.  The first Chanukah candle will be lit Thursday night, December 7.  Chanukah being an eight day holiday, there is always a Shabbat during Chanukah and sometimes two. When the first day Chanukah is Shabbat then the eighth day of Chanukah is also Shabbat. Otherwise, there is one Shabbat during Chanukah.

The Chanukah candles are lit each night of Chanukah in a place where they are visible, like at a window or door or in public places, in order to publicize the miracle of Chanukah.

Q.   What miracle is celebrated on Chanukah?  When and where did it take place?

A.   The miracle of Chanukah happened during the Second Temple.  After the destruction of the first Temple, Jews were exiled from Israel for a period of seventy years. After that Jews were permitted to return and rebuild the Temple.

Unfortunately, during the era of Alexander the Great, Hellenism and Greek culture started making inroads into Jewish life and to many it replaced the ways of the Torah.  One of the cruel rulers of the Land of Israel after the death of Alexander was Antiochus.   He issued harsh decrees against Jews and forbade them to observe many of the Torah laws.  The observance of Shabbat, circumcision, Rosh Chodesh and Jewish festivals were forbidden under the penalty of death.  The Holy Temple and its contents were desecrated and defiled.  Pagan culture and idolatry was practiced in the land of Israel.

Many adopted the new order, while many chose death and torture rather than accept the culture of the Greeks and the worship of idols.  Matisyahu the High Priest and his sons, amongst whom was Yehuda Maccabee, and a small Jewish army, waged war against the Greeks and with G-d’s help were victorious.

They rededicated the Holy Temple.  However, when they wanted to kindle the Menorah, which was done daily in the Temple, they found that all the oil was defiled by the Greeks.  They finally found one cruise of undefiled pure olive oil, bearing the seal of the High Priest.  It contained no more than one day’s supply. With great faith in G-d, they lit the holy Menorah and a miracle occurred. The one-day amount of oil miraculously lasted for eight days. After which they were able to produce new pure fresh oil.

The sages at that time designated these eight days as days of celebration and a holiday of Thanksgivings, every year. During these eight days we thank and praise G-d for this great miracle with special prayers, reading from the Torah and the kindling our own personal Chanukah lights.

Q.    What is the meaning of the name Chanukah?

A.    Chanukah means dedication.  It commemorates that on the 25^th day in the month of Kislev, the Holy Temple, which was in a state of defilement, was rededicated and restored.

WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL. FREE THEM ALL NOW.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Friday, Kislev 18, 5784 / December 1, 2023

Next week, Thursday evening, December 7th, we will light the first Chanukah light and usher in the holiday of Chanukah.

Although other holidays, like Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, in the Diaspora we celebrate one day more than in Israel, Chanukah is celebrated eight days in Israel as in the Diaspora.

On Chanukah we celebrate two miracles: 1) The miracle of winning the war against the Syrian-Greek-Hellenistic forces, as we recite in the Al Hanisim prayer, "Strong fell in the hands of the weak; many into the hands of the few."

2)  We celebrate the miracle of the oil in the Holy Temple (Beth HaMikdash), when they found a small flask of oil, which was sealed with the seal of the Hight Priest. It was enough to last for only one day, which miraculously lasted for eight days. 

Q.  We can understand how lighting the Menorah celebrates the miracle of the oil. But how does lighting the Menorah commemorate the miracle of winning the war?

A.  Our sages tell us that the harsh decrees against the Jewish people at the time of Chanukah were not physical, but spiritual. Jews were prohibited to study Torah and observe the mitzvot which connect us to G-d.  Thus, the war which the Macabees fought against the Hellenists was to protect and save the Jewish soul; i.e. for the observance of Torah and mitzvot. 

The soul is compared to a candle, as is written, "The candle of G-d is the soul of man." Torah and mitzvot 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. It celebrates not only the miracle of the physical oil in the Beth Hamikdash which lasted eight days, it also commemorates the victory of the Jewish soul, which is compared to a candle, and the victory of Torah and mitzvot, which are also compared to a candle and light.

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." Why aren't we permitted to have any personal use of the Chanukah candles?

A.  The Chanukah candles commemorate the lights of the Holy Temple (Beth HaMikdash). One was prohibited from having any personal use from the holy objects of the Temple. Being that the Chanukah candles represent the lights of the Temple we may not derive any personal benefit from them either.

WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 3:54 / Shabbat ends: 5:02

B"H

Monday, Kislev 21, 5784 / December 4, 2023

The miracle of Chanukah, which commemorates the victory of good over evil and the victory of light over darkness, took place over two thousand years ago.  Yet, we celebrated Chanukah year after year for over two thousand years.  Throughout the generations, Jews drew great spiritual strength from the holiday of Chanukah and its en-lightening message.

This is especially true today, when the forces of darkness and evil are fighting us from every corner of the world, from near and far, from above ground and from the tunnels beneath.

Every Jewish holiday, no matter how long ago it took place, is a lesson for us today.  The purpose of lighting the Menorah and celebrating the miracle of Chanukah today is to illuminate our own personal path in life so that we see and appreciate our individual miracles which take place each and every day.  

Some miracles are obvious, and we recognize them as such. However, most are hidden, for they are constant and thus are concealed in what we call "nature."  A more accurate term for what is commonly known as "nature" would be, "constant miracles."  We refer to them as nature because they are constant, and we are exposed to them all the time. In truth, every second of every day is a real miracle.   

Miracles are usually defined as something which is out of the ordinary, unexpected and cannot be explained.  They defy and challenge the laws of nature.  Things which we come to expect and happen continuously are generally categorized as "nature."

In truth, nature is the greatest miracle of all.  The very fact that G-d makes these things happen so normally and so ordinarily, is the greatest miracle.

Three times each day in the Amidah prayer, we acknowledge this with the following words: "We thankfully acknowledge that You are the L-rd... You are the strength of our life...   We offer blessings and thanks for our lives which are in Your hands, for our souls which are entrusted to You and for Your miracles which are with us daily."

In darkness, one can be standing next to the greatest treasure, but will not see nor appreciate it.  It takes the power of light to reveal that treasure.  "Nature" is like darkness which conceals G-d.  It is one of the tests and challenges we are presented with, each day.  It takes wisdom and understanding, which is compared to "light" to find and see G-d's hand within nature. 

"A small amount of light drives away much darkness," say our sages. The world around us can at times be full of darkness.  Chanukah serves to put light into our lives, so we see G-d's miracles that constantly accompany us and thus feel that G-d loves us!  Although we do not have the Holy Temple today, every Jewish home is our personal Holy Temple in which G-d dwells to the extent we bring Him into our home. As we will look at the Chanukah lights, this Chanukah, we should rejoice and be thankful for all the natural daily miracles, because G-d is with us all the time!

WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR REVEALED MIRACLES FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY