B"H
Monday, Kislev 18, 5776 / November 30, 2015 – HAKHEL YEAR
Chanukah begins next week, Sunday night, December 6th, and extends for eight days.
Chanukah commemorates the miracle of the oil in the Holy Temple, when a small flask, which had enough oil for only one day, miraculously lasted for eight days.
The first night of Chanukah, we light one candle. Each night of Chanukah we add an additional candle until the eighth night, when we light all eight candles.
The eighthnight of Chanukah is always the same night of the week as the firstnight. Thus, this year when the first night of Chanukah is Sunday night, the eighth night will be Sunday night one week later.
Before lighting the Chanukah candles we light one candle, called “Shamesh.” With the Shamesh we light the Chanukah candles. Then we place the Shamesh candle in the Menorah, but not in the same row as the Chanukah candles, to make it obvious that it is not one of the Chanukah candles.
Q. Is Chanukah a Biblical holiday, or a rabbinical holiday?
A. Chanukah and Purim are rabbinical holidays. The miracle of Chanukah took place about 1200 years after the Giving of the Torah. It was established by the sages to commemorate the miracle of the oil.
Q.Which holiday came first, Chanukah or Purim?
A. The miracle of Purim took place between the first and second Temples, while Jews were in Exile. The miracle of Chanukah happened during the time of the Second Temple - 200 years after the miracle of Purim.
Q. As mentioned, Purim and Chanukah are both rabbinical holidays, why is the "Hallel" recited on Chanukah and not on Purim?
A. The miracle of Chanukah took place in the Temple in the Holy Land while the miracle of Purim took place in Persia. Hallel is recited for miracles which happened in the Land of Israel.
Another reason is that for Purim they established the reading of the Megilah, which tells the story of the miracle of Purim. Reading the story of the miracle is our praise to G-d for this miracle. Since on Chanukah there is no Megilah reading, we recite the Hallel, which praises G-d for the miracle.
Q. Why do we light an extra candle each night, called the "Shamesh"?
A. We are prohibited to have any personal use from the Chanukah lights. Thus, by having the extra candle, if we forget and benefit from the light of the menorah, it will be from the Shamesh and not from the Chanukah lights.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
.B"H
Friday, Kislev 15, 5776 / November 27, 2015 – HAKHEL YEAR
In this week's Parsha, Vayishlach, the Torah recounts the hardships Yaakov and his family encountered after leaving his father-in-law, Lavan, and returning to his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah.
First they encountered Esau and his army of 400 men. Esau's intention was to kill Yaakov for getting the blessing from their father. Upon hearing that Esau and his men were coming, Yaakov became frightened. The Torah tells us that, "Yaakov was very afraid and distressed". Our sages explain that Yaakov was afraid that he may be killed and distressed that he may kill his brother, Esau.
In response to the danger facing him, Yaakov decided to do the following three things: He prayed, "G-d of my father Abraham, and G-d of my father Yitzchak, You said to me, 'Return to your country and to your kindred and I will do you good. Rescue me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau..."
Yaakov's second strategy was to prepare for possible war. "And he divided the people that were with him and the flocks and the herds and the camels into two camps. And he said, 'If Esau will come to one camp and smite it, then the camp which is left will escape'".
In addition, Yaakov sent messengers with generous gifts to Esau in the hope that he would have a change of heart. The Midrash tells us that G-d sent an army of angels to frighten Esau. In the end, Esau realized that he could not harm Yaakov.
Also in the Parsha, we read that G-d changed Yaakov's name to Yisrael (Israel).
When they finally came to Israel, Yaakov’s wife, Rachel, passed away right after giving birth to his youngest son, Binyamin.
Instead of burying her in the family burial plot in Hebron, Yaakov buried Rachel by the road on the way to Bet Lechem. Rachel was 36 when she passed away.
This week's Parsha also records the passing of Yitzchak at the age of 180. Yitzchak lived longer than the other patriarchs. Abraham lived 175 years and Yaakov lived 147 years.
Yaakov is the only one of our forefathers who has two names. At times, the Torah calls him Yaakov and at times, Yisrael (Israel).
Q. What is the significance of these two names?
A. They represent two stages in the history of the Jewish people. "Israel," which comes from the word master, represents the times of greatness and glory for our people. "Yaakov" relates to times of suffering and exile.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 3:56 / Shabbat ends: 5:03
.B"H
Friday, Kislev 15, 5776 / November 27, 2015 – HAKHEL YEAR
In this week's Parsha, Vayishlach, the Torah recounts the hardships Yaakov and his family encountered after leaving his father-in-law, Lavan, and returning to his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah.
First they encountered Esau and his army of 400 men. Esau's intention was to kill Yaakov for getting the blessing from their father. Upon hearing that Esau and his men were coming, Yaakov became frightened. The Torah tells us that, "Yaakov was very afraid and distressed". Our sages explain that Yaakov was afraid that he may be killed and distressed that he may kill his brother, Esau.
In response to the danger facing him, Yaakov decided to do the following three things: He prayed, "G-d of my father Abraham, and G-d of my father Yitzchak, You said to me, 'Return to your country and to your kindred and I will do you good. Rescue me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau..."
Yaakov's second strategy was to prepare for possible war. "And he divided the people that were with him and the flocks and the herds and the camels into two camps. And he said, 'If Esau will come to one camp and smite it, then the camp which is left will escape'".
In addition, Yaakov sent messengers with generous gifts to Esau in the hope that he would have a change of heart. The Midrash tells us that G-d sent an army of angels to frighten Esau. In the end, Esau realized that he could not harm Yaakov.
Also in the Parsha, we read that G-d changed Yaakov's name to Yisrael (Israel).
When they finally came to Israel, Yaakov’s wife, Rachel, passed away right after giving birth to his youngest son, Binyamin.
Instead of burying her in the family burial plot in Hebron, Yaakov buried Rachel by the road on the way to Bet Lechem. Rachel was 36 when she passed away.
This week's Parsha also records the passing of Yitzchak at the age of 180. Yitzchak lived longer than the other patriarchs. Abraham lived 175 years and Yaakov lived 147 years.
Yaakov is the only one of our forefathers who has two names. At times, the Torah calls him Yaakov and at times, Yisrael (Israel).
Q. What is the significance of these two names?
A. They represent two stages in the history of the Jewish people. "Israel," which comes from the word master, represents the times of greatness and glory for our people. "Yaakov" relates to times of suffering and exile.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 3:56 / Shabbat ends: 5:03
.B"H
Thursday, Kislev 14, 5776 / November 26, 2015 – HAKHEL YEAR
Instead of the regular Torah Fax content about the Parsha of the week, I would like to take this opportunity and express a special Mazal Tov to Ariel Biegel andSarah Techiya Litman, a very special couple who are getting married tonight, in Jerusalem.
Weddings are one of the happiest times in a person’s life. It is also the most joyful day for parents when they finally get to lead their son or daughter to the Chupah (marriage canopy). It is the day they anticipated to merit from the day their child was born.
These are the normal rules in normal times. Then there are situations when tragedy hits. Let me tell you about a unique, bitter-sweet wedding which will take place tonight in Jerusalem. This wedding will touch every Jewish heart.
It is a special wedding, in which bride and groom and all the guests will be dancing and crying at the same time. It is a wedding to which every Jew worldwide is invited. With this wedding, we all feel as family, even though most of us never even heard the names of bride and groom before.
This wedding celebrates good over evil; life over terror; Jewish continuity over those whose goal is to destroy us.
It is the wedding of Sarah Techiya Litman andAriel Biegel, which had to be postponed from its original date on Tuesday, November 17, to November 26, due to the murder of the bride’s father, Rabbi Yaakov Litman, 44, and brother, Netanel, 18, by Palestinian terrorists, who opened fire on their vehicle as they were on their way to a pre-wedding celebration.
At their funeral, the bride, Sarah Techiya cried out: “Abba, where have you gone? Who will give me away? I wanted you to be at my wedding!”
Bride and groom decided they were going to invite every Jew to their wedding, which was moved to the biggest hall in Jerusalem. I know people who decided to travel to Israel and attend this special wedding.
Here is an English translation of their updated Hebrew wedding invitation addressed to all of Israel:
“Ariel Biegel andSarah Techiya Litman invite you to come to our Wedding. Don’t make our enemies happy. We fell, we got up, with G-d’s help. Our wedding will take place Thursday, 26 November - 14 of Kislev, at Binyanei Hauma in Jerusalem. Am Yisrael is invited to get up from the dust and rejoice with us.”
Signed, Sarah Techiya and Arie”
We all wish Sarah Techiya and Ariel Mazal Tov – Mazal Tov! May their lives together be filled with happiness and joy from here on. May we all merit the coming of Moshiach very soon. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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