B"H
Tuesday, Kislev 23, 5785 / December 24, 2024
Chanukah begins this Wednesday night (Dec. 25) with the lighting of the first Chanukah light. Each night of Chanukah we add an additional candle over the night before. The second night of Chanukah we light two candles, the third night three and so on. On the last night of Chanukah, eight candles are lit.
In addition to commemorating the miracle of the oil by lighting the Chanukah lights, it is customary to eat on Chanukah various foods which are made with oil (doctor permitting). For example, “Latkes,” a potato blend, fried in oil or doughnuts, baked in oil, etc., as the miracle of Chanukah happened with oil.
Q. Why is it customary to distribute “Chanukah Gelt” (Chanukah money) to the children, during Chanukah?
A. One of the decrees by the Greeks, at the time of Chanukah, was the prohibition to study and teach Torah. We give the children “Chanukah Gelt” to encourage them to study more and more Torah, as this too was part of the miracle of Chanukah that this decree was rescinded.
Q. Why do many people use olive oil to light the Chanukah Menorah?
A. In the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple) only pure olive oil was used for the Menorah. Because the Chanukah lights commemorate the miracle of the menorah in the Holy Temple, many people use olive oil to perform this mitzvah as it was performed in the Holy Temple.
Q. Why, in addition to the Chanukah candles, do we light an extra candle, called, "Shamesh," each night?
A. We are prohibited from having any personal use from the Chanukah lights. The extra candle, the Shamesh, serves that in case we forget and benefit from the light of the menorah, it will be from the "Shamesh."
Q. Why was olive oil used for the lighting of the menorah in the Holy Temple?
A. Our sages explain that there is a very important lesson in this. According to the Midrash, the Jewish people are compared to the olive. Just like the olive produces its fine oil when it is squeezed, so too, the people of Israel have produced the greatest scholars and performed great accomplishments under pressure, especially the pressures in time of exile.
The Chanukah lights, which are kindled at night - at the time of darkness, teach us not to despair when things seem dark physically and spiritually.
The Chanukah candles remind us that just like the oil of the olive is produced through squeezing and pressing of the olives, so it is also with the Jewish people. It is the challenging situation which we were forced into, which so often brought out the best in us and capabilities we never knew we possessed!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Monday, Kislev 22, 5785 / December 23, 2024
Dear Torah Fax Friend, Wednesday night, December 25, begins the Chanukah holiday, when Jews all over the world will kindle the first Chanukah light.
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.
By Visa: Please click the DONATE button on this page and fill out the information.
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.
May our brothers and sisters in Israel see the light of Shalom-peace.
May our brothers and sisters who are hostages see the light of FREEDOM.
Thank you for all your help. Very much appreciated.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
Rabbi Zalmen Marozov
Director
B"H
Friday, Kislev 19, 5785 / December 20, 2024
Today, the 19th of Kislev, is a special day in the Chassidic movement, as it is the yartzeit (day of passing) of Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezritch, who took over the leadership of the Chassidic movement after the passing of its founder, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov.
The 19th of Kislev is also the day in which Rabbi Schneur Zalmen, first Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch was liberated from prison.
He was imprisoned by the Czarist government for spreading the teachings of the Kaballah and Chassidus. Rabbi Schneur Zalmen's life was in grave danger. After 53 days of imprisonment, he was released on the 19th of Kislev in the year 1798. Since then, this day has been celebrated with great joy in appreciation of this great miracle.
The following is an important lesson he taught his son and successor.
Rabbi Schneur Zalmen and his son, Rabbi Dov Ber (named after his teacher), lived in the same house. Rabbi Dov Ber occupied the ground floor while his father lived on the floor above.
One day, while Rabbi Dov Ber was immersed in Torah study, his little baby fell out of the crib. Although Rabbi Dov Ber wasn't far away, he was so engrossed in his studies that he didn't hear the baby crying.
Rabbi Schneur Zalmen was also involved in deep study of the Torah. Yet, he heard the baby cry, rushed downstairs, picked up the baby and rocked him back to sleep. Through all this time, Rabbi Dov Ber, who was renowned for his deep concentration in study, remained oblivious to his child's loud crying and to his father's presence in the room!
Then Rabbi Schneur Zalmen asked his son, "Why didn't you respond to the baby's cry?"
"Father," answered Rabbi Dov Ber, "I simply didn't hear him cry!"
Rabbi Schneur Zalmen rebuked his son: "You must never be so involved in your own matters, however important they may be, that as a result you don't hear the cry of a child. Even when studying Torah at the highest levels one must be attuned to the cry of a Jewish child!"
It was a lesson which shaped the motto of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement throughout the generations. It is particularly evident today with the many Chabad centers all over the world to assist every Jew, young and old, teenagers and children, with their physical and spiritually needs.
Chanukah, which begins next Wednesday night, teaches us this lesson. The small, seemingly insignificant Chanukah lights remind us of the importance of every soul. It is our duty and responsibility to listen, care, to kindle and instill in every Jewish child the light, beauty and warmth of Judaism.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 3:55 / Shabbat ends: 5:05
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
B"H
Thursday, Kislev 18, 5785 / December 19, 2024
Chanukah begins next week, Wednesday night, December 25. On the first night we kindle one light and add an additional light each night, until the eighth night when we light eight candles. Thus, commemorating the miracle of Chanukah when a small amount of oil, barely enough for one night, miraculously burnt for eight nights.
Q. Why, in addition to lighting at home, it is also customary to light the menorah in the synagogue?
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. But the 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 or door to publicize the miracle and bring light to the outside.
Q. Why is it important to publicize the miracle of Chanukah more than other miracles?
A. The miracle of Chanukah, when a small cruise of oil, enough to barely last one day, lasted eight days, took place inside the Holy Temple. The actual miracle was not visible to everyone, only to the Kohanim (priests) who served in the Holy Temple. Thus, the rabbis established that this miracle should be publicized, so that everyone will know about it.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW
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