Tuesday, Kislev 13, 5782 / November 17, 2021
B"H
Tuesday, Kislev 13, 5782 / November 17, 2021
Q. Is Chanukah a Biblical holiday, or a rabbinical holiday?
A. Chanukah and Purim are rabbinical holidays. The holidays of Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot are Biblical holiday as they are mentioned in the Torah, written by Moshe. The miracle of Chanukah took place about 1200 years after the Giving of the Torah. It was established by the rabbis of that time to commemorate the miracle of the oil and the dedication of the Holy Temple.
Q. Every morning, afternoon and evening service has an “Amidah” (or Shmone Esrei) prayer in it. On special occasions, like Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and holidays, after reading from the Torah, we recite an additional Amidah prayer, called “Musaf” (Musaf means addition). Why don’t we recite the Musaf prayer during the eight days of Chanukah?
A. The morning and Mincha (afternoon) Amidah prayers are instead of the morning and afternoon sacrifices which were offered in the Holy Temple each day, as mentioned in the Torah. On special days, such as Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and holidays, the Torah instructs that an additional sacrifice be brought upon the altar in the Temple. Thus, the Musaf service we recite on these special days corresponds to the additional sacrifice brought in the Temple.
However, the Musaf prayer is said only on holidays that are mentioned in the Five Books of Moses (Bible). This applies to Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, in which the Torah commands that to offer the additional sacrifice in the Holy Temple.
But, as mentioned before, Chanukah is a rabbinical holiday and in the days of the Temple there was no additional sacrifice brought on these days. Thus, the Musaf prayer is not recited on Chanukah and Purim.
Q. If Purim and Chanukah are both rabbinical holidays, why is the "Hallel" service, in which we give special praise to G-d, recited only Chanukah and not on Purim?
A. The miracle of Chanukah took place in the Holy Land (Israel) 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 Purim we have the reading of the Megilah, which tells the story of the miracle of Purim, thus, praising G-d for this miracle. Since on Chanukah there is no Megilah reading, we recite the Hallel, through which we praise G-d for this miracle.
Q. What is the significance of the four Hebrew letters, Nun, Gimel, Hay, Shin on the Driedel?
A. They stand for: "Nes, Gadol, Haya, Sham" - A great miracle happened there - in Israel. In Israel, the letter "Shin" is substituted with the letter "Pay". It stands for the Hebrew word "Poh" - "Here" ("A great miracle happened here"), as the miracle of Chanukah took place in Israel.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, Kislev 11, 5782 / November 15, 2021
B"H
Monday, Kislev 11, 5782 / November 15, 2021
We are two weeks away from Chanukah. Being an eight day holiday, Chanukah begins and ends on the same day of the week. This year, we light the first Chanukah candle Sunday night, November 28; and the eighth candle is lit Sunday night, December 5.
Q. Why is the holiday called, “Chanukah”?
A. There are many reasons for the name Chanukah. Here are two:
1) “Chanukah” means “dedication.” When the Macabees reclaimed the Holy Temple from the Greeks, who defiled everything in the Temple, they had to “re-dedicate” the Temple to its former state of purity. Thus, the holiday is called Chanukah, for then the Holy Temple was re-dedicated.
2) On the “25th” day of Kislev the Jewish fighters were finally able to “rest” from their battles. “Chanukah” can be divided into two Hebrew words: “Chanu” (rest) – “Kah” (numerical value of 25). The name Chanukah alludes to the fact that, “They rested on the 25th." Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev.
Q. In the prayer recited after the lighting of the Chanukah candles we say, "During all eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make use of them". What is the reason that we are not permitted to have any personal use of the Chanukah lights?
A. The Chanukah candles commemorate the lights of the menorah in the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple). One was prohibited to have any personal use of the holy objects of the Beth Hamikdash. Being that the Chanukah candles represent the lights of the Beth Hamikdash we are not to derive any personal benefit from them either.
Q. Why do many prefer to use olive oil and wicks instead of candles for the Chanukah lights?
A. Olive oil was used to light the menorah in the Holy Temple. Since the original miracle of Chanukah involved olive oil, using olive oil to light the menorah commemorates the miracle more accurately.
Also, our sages compare the Jewish people to an olive. Just as the olive reveals its treasure, its oil, through being pressed, so too, the Jewish people have produced the greatest scholars during our years of exile and oppression.
The Midrash tells us that the Jewish people are compared to oil for another reason too. While liquids mix with each other, oil, when mixed with other liquids, will eventually separate and float to the top. Although many nations tried to oppress and assimilate us over the past 2000 years, yet, the Jewish nation has endured and retained its unique identity and have in the end come up to the top.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Wednesday, Tishrei 5, 5781 / September 23, 2020
B"H
Wednesday, Tishrei 5, 5781 / September 23, 2020
Yom Kippur, also called, Yom Hakadosh– The Holy Day, is next Monday, September 28. As with all Jewish holidays, the day begins from the night before, thus, Yom Kippur commences Sunday night, September 27. Yom Kippur is on the tenth day of Tishrei, the day in which our sins are forgiven.
Q. Why was this day chosen as the day when our sins are forgiven?
A. Yom Kippur was the day in which G-d forgave Israel for the sin of the Golden Calf and also the day when Moshe returned with the Second Tablets. Thus, G-d chose this day as the day of forgiveness for all generations.
Q. Yom Kippur begins with the Kol Nidrei service. What is the significance of this prayer? Why is it recited in Aramaic and not in Hebrew?
A. Kol Nidrei is a prayer in which we declare our vows null and void. It was established in Aramaic, because it was the spoken language of Jews in Babylon at that time and one must understand what they are saying when nulifying a vow. The only vows which we can nullify in Kol Nidrei are those which don't involve other people. Vows and promises made to others are not nullified on Yom Kippur.
Kol Nidrei gained much significance during the Spanish Inquisition. Then, many Jews, known as "Marranos", vowed to renounce their religion under the threat of death, yet in their heart remained loyal to Judaism. They would gather on Yom Kippur in secrecy and use Kol Nidrei to renounce their vows against the religion that was forced upon them. The Kol Nidrei melody chanted today has its roots in the events of that time.
Q. Why is the Kol Nidrei repeated three times?
A. According to the Talmud, important announcements used to be repeated three times. The repetition of the Kol Nidrei emphasizes its importance. On a more practical level, we repeat it so that those who came late to the synagogue should not miss the Kol Nidrei.
Q. Yom Kippur is a holiday and holidays are ususally celebrated with a meal. Why is Yom Kippur different from all holidays of the year that we are commanded to fast?
A.1) Being the day of atonement, when our sins are forgiven, we spend the time with spiritual matters and not physical appetites.
3) Fasting humbles a person. On Yom Kippur, when we must perform Teshuva-repentance with all our heart, we refrain from eating or drinking.
4) On Yom Kippur, when we are forgiven for our sins, we are considered as pure as the angels, who have no sins. We express this by acting like angels who don't eat or drink.
MAY WE ALL BE BLESSED WITH A GMAR CHATIMA TOVA - A HEALTHY NEW YEAR
Tuesday, Elul 26, 5780 / September 15, 2020
B"H
Tuesday, Elul 26, 5780 / September 15, 2020
Rosh Hashana, the holiday which ushers in the new year 5781 begins this Friday evening.
Q. Why is the Torah reading on the first day of Rosh Hashana about the miraculous birth of our patriarch Yitzchak (Isaac) and on the second day we read about G-d's testing Abraham, commanding him to bring his beloved son as a sacrifice?
A. It was on Rosh Hashana that our Matriarch Sarah became pregnant with Yitzchak. She was 90 years old when she gave birth to her only child, Yitzchak. In commemoration of this great miracle, from whom the entire Jewish descended, we read about this great miracle on Rosh Hashana.
Also, since Rosh Hashana is the day of judgment, we want to recall on this day as many merits for the people of Israel as possible. Therefore, we read about the miraculous birth of Yitzchak when Abraham was 100 years old. Still, when G-d commanded him to sacrifice his beloved son Yitzchak, Abraham didn't hesitate and was immediately ready to do G-d's will. In recalling this story we pray that in the merit of Abraham and Yitzchak’s great trust and dedication to G-d, we, their descendents, will be judged favorably and granted all that we need in the coming year.
Shofar: On Rosh Hashana after the Torah reading and again during the Musaf service the Shofar is blown. This year, as the first day of Rosh Hashana is Shabbat, we do not blow the Shofar.
We make three different sounds with the Shofar -- Tekiah, a long sound; Shevarim, three broken sounds (like sighs); and Teruah, which are sounds that are even more static than the Shevarim (like a wailing sound). At the end we blow a "Tekiah Gedolah" - a "Long Blow." This sound is extended longer than the other Tekiah.
The Shofar is made of a ram's horn to remind us that Abraham passed his final and most difficult test, of his ten tests, to bring his son Yitzchak on the altar. At the last moment G-d showed him a ram which he sacrificed instead. The Shofar made of a ram’s horn, recalls the great sacrifices that our forefathers Abraham and Yitzchak were willing to make. We pray that in their merit G-d will inscribe us, their descendants, for a good and sweet year.
Q. What is the reason for the Tekiah Gedolah (long blow) at the end of the Shofar blowing?
A. The blowing of the Shofar reminds us of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai which was accompanied by the sound of the Shofar. The Giving of the Torah concluded with a long blast (see Exodus 19). Thus, we conclude the series of blasts of the Shofar with a "long blast."
The Shofar also reminds us of the coming of Moshiach whose arrival will be announced through the Great Shofar. May we indeed merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days. Amen.
HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & A SWEET NEW YEAR
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