B"H
Wednesday, Kislev 23, 5781 / December 9, 2020
Chanukah begins this Thursday night (December 10).
The name Chanukah comes from the word “Chanukat” which means dedication. On that day the Holy Temple was re-dedicated to it’s former level of holiness, after being defiled by the Greek-Assyrians. The Menorah was again kindled with pure, holy olive oil, which was miraculously found and which was sealed with the seal of the High Priest (Kohen Gadol).
There is another idea behind the name Chanukah. Chanukah can be read as two words “Chanu-kah.”
In addition to the dedication of the Holy Temple, Chanukah also celebrates the miracle that the Jewish people won their battles and were able to finally rest and rebuild their country. This took place on the 25th of the month Kislev, which is when we begin the holiday of Chanukah each year.
The name Chanukah alludes to this. “Chanu” means “they rested” and “Kah” in Hebrew, which is comprised from the two letters Kaf and Hay represent the number 25. Thus, Chanukah also means, “They rested on the twenty fifth.”
Q. Why is it that the dates of the Jewish holidays vary from year to year?
A. The Jewish holidays go by the Hebrew calendar and are actually on the same date every year. For example: Chanukah is always on the 25th day in the month of Kislev. The change from year to year is only on the secular calendar. The reason is that the Hebrew calendar year consists of approx. 354 days in a regular year and 385 days in a Hebrew leap, while the secular calendar has 365 days. It’s the difference of these days each year which is responsible for the difference.
Q. Why do many prefer olive oil for lighting the Chanukah menorah?
A. The Chanukah lights commemorate the lights in the Holy Temple which were lit with pure olive oil. Thus, many prefer olive oil over ordinary candles.
Q. Why was only olive oil used in the menorah in the Holy Temple?
A. Our sages tell us that the Jewish people are compared to an olive. In order to get the oil from the olive the olive is pressed and squeezed. The same is with the Jewish people who have shown our greatest accomplishments and have produced our greatest scholars during difficulty and great pressure.
Q. Although the Chanukah lights commemorate the lights of the menorah in the Holy Temple, there are differences between them. What are they?
A. In the Temple menorah there were seven lights, while in the Chanukah menorah we have eight. Also, the menorah in the Temple was lit during the day, while the Chanukah menorah is lit at night.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Kislev 24, 5781 / December 10, 2020
Chanukah begins tonight (Thursday night). Tonight we light one light. Tomorrow (Friday) we light two lights and so we add an additional light each night, until we kindle all eight lights of the Menorah.
Friday we have to be careful to light the Chanukah candlesbefore the Shabbat candles. The reason is because once we light the Shabbat candles and bring in the holy day of Shabbat, we are then prohibited to light a fire. Thus, we must kindle the Chanukah lights first.
Q. Why is the Chanukah Menorah lit near the window or door?
A. The miracle of Chanukah celebrates the miracle of the small jar of pure olive oil which was found in the Holy Temple, enough to light the menorah (candelabra) for only one day, which miraculously lasted for eight days. The menorah in the Temple was meant to spread its spiritual light to enlighten the world. This is why the windows in the Temple were made narrower inside and wider towards the outside. The purpose was that the holy light of the Temple should permeate and illuminate the outside. Thus, we too, kindle the Chanukah lights near the window to illuminate the darkness of the world outside.
Inthe story of Chanukah there is a lesson to each one of us. The event which took place at that time was the battle between good and evil; a battle between those who wanted to defile all that is holy to us and those who fought to preserve it. It is a battle we all have every day of our lives. It is a challenge we face all the time.
The miracle of Chanukah teaches us that one must not be overwhelmed by the forces of evil, even when they are in the majority. The Macabees were a very small army of fighters who were resolved to fight for good and holiness over impurity and corruption. Because of their resolve and conviction, even though they were small in numbers compared to the armies of the Syrian-Greek armies, they were victorious. It is a lesson in our day-to-day battles that if we fight for the truth and don’t give up, we too, will overcome.
On the lighter side: A poor yeshiva student in the shtetel (village) survived by eating a meal with a different family every day, as was customary in those days. The villagers were poor and times were hard, so no matter where he ate, he was served potatoes. Finally, Chanukah came and he was hoping for a more elaborate meal. But to his dismay night after night, all he got was potato latkes and more potato latkes. Finally, the last night of Chanukah he turned to his host and said, "What blessing should I make over the potatoe latkes?"
"What?" exclaimed his host. "How could you ask such a simple thing? Everyone knows that for foods which come out of the ground we make the blessing, "Borei pri ha'adamah."
"I know that." he replied. "But what blessing do I say for potatoes that are coming out of my ears?"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
B"H
Wednesday, Tevet 1, 5781 / December 16, 2020
Happy 6th day of Chanukah & Happy Rosh Chodesh.
In addition to celebrating Chanukah, today we also celebrate Rosh Chodesh- the first day of the Hebrew month, Tevet. Rosh Chodesh Tevet always falls out during Chanukah. In some years Rosh Chodesh Tevet is celebrated two days and in others, as this year, it is only one day.
Q. What is the significance and connection between Rosh Chodesh and Chanukah?
A. One of the decrees against Jews at that time was the prohibition to celebrate Rosh Chodesh. When the miracle of Chanukah took place and the Greek armies were defeated, Rosh Chodesh was again observed openly. Thus, it is significant that each year during the Chanukah celebrations we also celebrate Rosh Chodesh.
Q. What is the significance of the four Hebrew letters on the Driedel; Nun, Gimel, Hay, Shin?
A.These four letters stand for the Hebrew words: "Nes, Gadol, Haya, Sham" - "A great miracle happened there". “There” meaning in Israel. However, in Israel, where the miracle took place, the letter "Shin" on the Dreidel, is substituted with the letter "Pay". It stands for the Hebrew word "Poh", "Here" ("A great miracle happened here").
Q. Did a woman play a role in the miracle of Chanukah?
A.A woman named Yehudit played an important part in the story of Chanukah. Yehudit's story describes the heroism and determination of a woman fighting for her nation's freedom.
Yehudit was an exceptionally beautiful woman. She asked to be introduced to the Syrian General Helifornos, who was impressed with her beauty and wisdom. At their meeting, she offered him very salty aged cheese and strong wine which she brought with her. The salty cheese made him very thirsty and he drank much wine which put him into a deep sleep.
With a silent prayer on her lips asking G-d for strength, she beheaded him with his own sword, placed his head into a basket, and returned with it to Jerusalem. The Macabees placed Helifornos' head on a pole. When the soldiers realized that their general was dead, they ran away. Thus, Yehudit contributed greatly to the victories of the Macabees.
To commemorate the heroism of Yehudit, many women refrain from working while the Chanukah candles remain lit. Some have a custom to eat cheese on Chanukah in remembrance of Yehudit's brave act which came about as a result of serving Helifornos cheese.
HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHODESH-MONTH & HAPPY CHANUKAH
B"H
Thursday, Tevet 2, 5781 / December 17, 2020
Happy 7th day of Chanukah.
Q. The reason we celebrate Chanukah eight days is to commemorate the miracle of the oil in the Holy Temple, in which a jar of oil which had enough for only one day lasted for eight days. The obvious question is, if the jar contained enough oil to burn one day, then the miracle only occurred for seven days! Why do we celebrate Chanukah for eight days?
A. There are many answers to this question. One is that the first day of Chanukah we celebrate finding the jar of oil which was the only one not defiled. The other seven days, we celebrate the miracle of the burning of the oil.
The following parable explains the importance of the miracle of finding the oil, for without it the other miracle couldn’t take place.
A wealthy merchant traveled to the fair in the big city carrying eight sacks of money. As he passed through a forest, he was held up by robbers. In distress, he prayed to G-d, "Perform a miracle and I promise to give 10% to charity."
The robbers took seven sacks, but somehow overlooked one sack. When the merchant came to the nearest city, he used that money from that one sack, to hire people to chase after the robbers. They captured the robbers and returned all seven sacks of money.
When the merchant came home, he told the charity collectors his story and gave them 10% of the 7 sacks that were retrieved. But the charity collectors weren't satisfied. "You have to give charity from all eight sacks," they said to him.
"But one sack was never taken from me!" protested the merchant. "Why should I give charity from this one too?"
"The fact that the robbers overlooked one sack," they answered, "is the greatest miracle. For this money enabled you to retrieve the other seven sacks. If you wouldn’t have this sack, you couldn’t have retrieved the others! Therefore, you have to thank G-d even more for the sack that wasn't taken in the first place!"
The same is true with Chanukah. Finding the jar of oil is as important a miracle as the burning of the oil, because you couldn't have one without the other. Thus, we celebrate the first day of Chanukah, the great miracle of finding one jar which was not defiled in the first place.
Did you know that the numerical value of the four Hebrew letters on the Dreidel (nun, gimel, hay, shin) is 358. The same numerical value as Moshiach (mem, shin, yud, chet). May we merit the ultimate redemption with the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.
HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
In loving memory of Corinne Fay Schneider– Chaya Feiga bat Tzvi Shalom – of blessed memory. Yartzeit is today.
May her Neshama-soul rest in peace in Gan Eden.
Dedicated by her brother Bernard Schneider.
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