Wednesday, Kislev 23, 5784 / December 6, 2023

Thursday night is the first night of 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. Chanukah is a time of illuminating the world. Each year, at this time, we count on you.

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.

We offer you a share in this wonderful mitzvah.

To contribute by mail: please make your check payable to: Torah Fax (Chanukah Campaign).

Mail to:  Torah Fax - Box 373 Station Snowdon, Montreal, Quebec. H3X 3T6. Canada.

By Visa: Please fill out the form at the bottom of this page & e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

To donate via Pay Pal: Our account is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Donations are tax deductible.

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

Visa # _________________________________________ 

Exp. date:_________________________

Name:________________________________________ 

Address: _________________________________________________________________________ 

Fax:_______________________  Amount:$_______________

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

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday, Kislev 24, 5784 / December 7, 2023

Tonight (Thursday night) begins the holiday of Chanukah, which has been celebrated by Jews for over two thousand years. It is the victory of light over darkness. Although Chanukah is an ancient holiday associated with the Menorah lights in the Temple, yet, in every generation we have to deal with the darkness we are faced against. In our days, the darkness is so obvious everywhere, from the streets, to the universities, to the U.N.  This year the Chanukah lights announce loud and clear; Am Yisroel Chai.

Tonight, we light the first Chanukah candle. An additional candle is lit each night.

Q.   Why is it customary to also light the Chanukah Menorah in the synagogue and in public places?

A.   It is a mitzvah to publicize the miracle of Chanukah as much as possible.  Thus, although we light the Menorah at home, it is also a mitzvah to kindle it in the synagogue in order to publicize the miracle of Chanukah for those attending synagogue.

2)  Another reason is that today the synagogue takes the place of the Holy Temple.  Being that the miracle took place in the Holy Temple, it is important to kindle the Chanukah lights also in synagogue, which is called, “a miniature Temple.”

3)   Another reason is that there may be people in synagogue who are traveling and have no place to light their Chanukah candles.  Thus, the sages required that the Chanukah Menorah also be lit each night in the synagogue for those who are in transit.

Q.   Why is it customary to place the Chanukah Menorah in synagogue on the south wall?

A.   To commemorate the Menorah in the Holy Temple which stood on the south side in the Sanctuary.

Q.   Before Shabbat and holidays, candles are lit in every Jewish home.  Yet, we see a difference between the Chanukah candles and the Shabbat and holiday candles.  The Shabbat candles are lit inside the home on the table where we eat.  Chanukah candles are lit near a door or window.  Why the difference?

A.   The purpose of the Shabbat and holiday candles is to bring light and peace within our home.  Thus, the candles are lit on the table so that we can enjoy our meals with the additional lights.  The purpose of the Chanukah lights is to publicize the miracle of Chanukah and to illuminate the spiritual darkness of the outside world.  Thus, the Chanukah lights are lit near the window to bring light to the outside. 

Q.   Why is it prohibited to have any personal benefit from the Chanukah lights?

A.    Because the Chanukah lights commemorate the lights of the Menorah in the Holy Temple.  Just as one was prohibited to have any personal benefit or use of the objects in the Temple, so too, we are prohibited to have any use from the Chanukah lights.     

WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS & REVEALED MIRACLES IN ISRAEL HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Friday, Kislev 25, 5784 / December 8, 2023

HAPPY CHANUKAH. Today (Friday) is the firstday of Chanukah.

In the Talmud there are various opinions as to how we 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.

However, 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 Shamai is that already on the first day the miracle happened, and the oil had the potential to burn for eight days. Although, it wasn’t obvious yet, the potential for the miracle was there already. But Hillel says 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 – we add in holiness.

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 when we kindle the second candle on Friday, thus adding an additional candle from the previous night. It will become even more prominent as we go through the eight days of Chanukah.

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

WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL

MAY WE INDEED SEE GREAT MIRACLES IN ISRAEL - SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 3:52 / Shabbat ends: 5:01

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.