B"H
Friday, Kislev 22, 5779 / November 30, 2018
Sunday evening, December 2, will begin the holiday of Chanukah. The holiday lasts 8 days.
The story of Chanukah is recorded in the Talmud as follows: "When the Greeks entered the sanctuary, they defiled all the oils. When the Chasmonaim defeated them, they searched and found only one jar of oil with the seal of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). It contained enough oil to burn only one day, yet a miracle occurred, and the oil burned eight days." To celebrate this great miracle, our sages established the lighting of the menorah each night of Chanukah.
Q. Talmudic scholars ask the obvious question, "If there was enough oil to burn one day, then the miracle was only for seven days. Why do we celebrate Chanukah 8 days?"
A. Many answers are given to this question. One of the answers is that on the first day of Chanukah, we celebrate the miracle of finding the jar of pure undefiled oil, which was a great miracle in itself. The other seven days, we commemorate the miracle of the burning of the oil.
To explain how the miracle of finding the oil is as important as the miracle of the burning of the oil, they give the following parable: A wealthy merchant traveled from his town to the fair in the big city. He carried eight sacks of money to purchase merchandise at the fair. As he passed through a forest, he was held up by robbers who took seven sacks full of money. Miraculously, they overlooked one sack. When the merchant came to the closest city, he used the money from the remaining sack to hire people and chase after the robbers. He also prayed to G-d, "If you perform a miracle and they find the robbers and retrieve the money, I promise to give 10% to charity." The people captured the robbers and returned all seven sacks of money to the merchant.
When the merchant came home, he told the charity collectors his story and gave them 10% of the 7 sacks that were retrieved. "You have to give charity from all 8 sacks," said the charity collectors.
"But one sack was never taken from me. There was no miracle there," protested the merchant. "Why should I give charity from this one too?"
"The fact that the robbers didn't take one sack is the greatest miracle,” answered the charity collectors. “If the robbers wouldn’t have overlooked that one sack, you wouldn't have had the money to hire people to chase after them. You must thank G-d for the sack that wasn't taken in the first place."
The same is with the Chanukah miracle. It was only due to the finding of the one small jar of undefiled oil, that the miracle of it burning seven days was able to take hold. Thus, we celebrate one day for the miracle of finding the oil and the other seven days for the miracle of the burning of the oil.
Remember to light the first Chanukah candle this Sunday evening.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle time: 3:54 / Shabbat ends: 5:02
B"H
Monday, Kislev 25, 5779 / December 3, 2018
Happy Chanukah. Questions & Answers about Chanukah:
Q. Our custom of performing the mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah menorah is to light the first night one candle, the second night two candles until the last night when we light eight candles. Yet, in the Talmud there are other opinions how to perform this mitzvah.
A. The Talmud records four opinions how to perform the mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah candles:
1) One candle is lit for the entire family each night of Chanukah.
2) Each member of the family lights one candle each night. According to these two opinions, the amount of candles are the same each night of Chanukah.
3) The Talmudic sage Shamai maintains that we commemorated the days of Chanukah that are coming. Thus, we light eight candles the first night of Chanukah, seven on the second night, six on the third night and so on, until the last night when we light only one candle.
4) Hillel says that we commemorate the days that are going out. Thus, the first night we light one candle and we increase one candle each night until we kindle eight lights the last night.
The reason for Hillel’s opinion that we begin with one light and go up each night is because of the important rule, "One must go up and advance in matters of holiness and not descend." The law was set like Hillel that on the first night we light one candle and add one candle each night.
One of the many lessons we take from the Chanukah lights is that in matters of spirituality, holiness, mitzvot and good deeds we must strive to increase, doing more and more.
Q. In addition to lighting the Chanukah menorah at home, it is also customary to light it in synagogue every evening after the Mincha (afternoon) prayer. Why?
A. The purpose of lighting the menorah is to publicize the miracle of Chanukah. For this reason we place the menorah near the door or window so as many people as possible will see the lights. For this reason, we also light it in synagogue, which is a place of communal prayer, where people gather.
In addition, a synagogue is called a "small sanctuary" and is an extension of the Holy Temple. Thus, lighting the menorah in synagogue commemorates the miracle which took place in the HolyTemple.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged the construction and lighting of large public menorahs in shopping centers, parks etc. as another way to fulfill the mitzvah of publicizing the miracle of Chanukah.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
B"H
Tuesday, Kislev 26, 5779 / December 4, 2018
Q. Lighting the Chanukah candles commemorates the miracle of the lights of the menorah in the Holy Temple, in which a small amount of oil, enough to last only one day, lasted eight days. Yet, the Chanukah menorah is different than the menorah in the Temple. How?
A. The menorah in the Temple had seven lights. The Chanukah menorah has eight lights for it commemorates the miracle which lasted eight days.
Q. How is the kindling of the lights in the Chanukah menorah different than the lights kindled in the Temple?
A. All seven of the lights in the Temple menorah were kindled each day. But with Chanukah menorah they are different each day. The first night one candle is lit and an additional light each day.
Also, the menorah in the Temple was lit inside the sanctuary. But the Chanukah menorah has to be lit near a window or door, in order to announce the miracle of Chanukah to the world outside.
Q. Why did the miracle of the oil in the Temple have to last exactly eight days?
A. When a Jew comes in contact with a dead body he becomes spiritually impure for a period of seven days. While in the state of impurity one is not permitted to enter the Temple, nor have any contact with the holy objects of the Temple.
Because of the battles fought with the Assyrian-Greeks Jews came in contact with the dead. Now they had to wait for the eighth day to become spiritually clean. Only then were they permitted to process the new oil to be used in the menorah of the Holy Temple. This is why the miracle had to last eight days.
Q. The Chanukah lights have to be lit near a window or a door. They have to burn at least a half hour after dark. What lesson does this teach us?
A. It teaches us that it is not enough for us to think only of ourselves and our family when performing mitzvot. But we must also feel responsible to advertise this miracle and help others perform the mitzvot. Thus, we light them where they will also be seen by others and thus, will publicize the miracle to others as well.
It also teaches us that a mitzvah is like a candle. Just as even one small light can dispel much darkness, so too every mitzvah, no matter how small it may seem, has an effect in dispelling lots of spiritual darkness and bringing light to the world. For this reason the lights have to burn in the night when it is dark. May we all have a deLIGHTFUL Chanukah.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
B"H
Wednesday, Kislev 27, 5779 / December 5, 2018
Today is the third day 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.
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.
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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.
If you’re traveling, I extend my best wishes to you and your family for a safe, healthy and enjoyable vacation.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
Rabbi Zalmen Marozov
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