Day: December 15, 2019
“Shabbat Shalom” – Parshat Vayeshev 5780
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1 – 40:23) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” (Gen. 40:11) The Bible believes in the significance of dreams; so did the Sages of the …
Eight Days – Eight Thoughts
Day One – Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin Day Two – Rabbanit Sally Mayer Day Three – Rabbi Chaim Kanterovitz Day Four – Pnina Omer Day Five – Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein Day Six – Rabbanit Atirat Granevich Day Seven – Rabbanit Billy Rabenstein Day Eight – Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander Download the booklet as PDF The …
Eight Days – Eight Thoughts: Day Eight
The Flame and the Light Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel offer differing views on the kindling of the Chanukah lights. Beit Shammai’s reason for requiring a continual decrease from eight (Chanukah) lights to one is so that the various kindlings correspond to the bull (sacrifices) of the Sukkot festival, and Beit …
Eight Days – Eight Thoughts: Day Seven
A Light that Gradually Diminishes; a Light that Gradually Intensifies Rabbanit Bili Rabenstein The Sages taught in a beraita: The basic mitzvah of Chanukah is to have a light kindled each day by a person, the head of the household, for himself and his household. And the mehadrin, i.e., those who are meticulous in the …
Eight Days – Eight Thoughts: Day Six
“If it was Extinguished, One is Not Bound to Relight it” Atirat Granevich The flickering lights in the Chanukiyah are truly heart-warming. These candles, melting away under the flames, draw our gazes and publicize the wondrous miracles that Hashem performed for us in those days. With this in mind, the halakha exempting us from relighting …
Eight Days – Eight Thoughts: Day Five
Chanukah: For All and For Us Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein The private and public symbiosis of the Chanukah candles is vital in halakha: why are they lit in the home, but facing the outside? Both the Talmud and Rambam’s code illustrate to us the story that lead up to the catalyst of this mitzvah; the lightning …
Eight Days – Eight Thoughts: Day Four
The Women of Chanukah Pnina Omer Lighting Chanukah candles is an obligation as well as a privilege for women. This is clearly illustrated and accepted within Jewish law “… for they, too, were present at that miracle”, according to the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law). This precept also appears in the Gemarah (Talmud), but …
Eight Days – Eight Thoughts: Day Three
The Precedent for the Final Redemption Rabbi Chaim Kanterovitz In his assessment of the causes, and aftermath of the historical events that led to the establishment of the festival of Chanukah, Rambam (Maimonides 12th century Spain) writes towards the end of the first law: “…וגברו בני חשמונאי הכוהנים הגדולים והרגום והושיעו ישראל מידם והעמידו מלך …
Eight Days – Eight Thoughts: Day Two
The Message in the Candles Rabbanit Sally Mayer The festival of Chanukah commemorates an incredible miracle. When the Beit Hamikdash was rededicated by the Hasmoneans after their military victory, a small flask of oil sufficient enough to light the menorah for one night, lasted eight. However, there have been other miracles which seem far greater …
Eight Days – Eight Thoughts: Day One
The Miracle of Lights or of Victory? Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin The festival of Chanukah celebrates the victory of a small band of Hasmonean believers in God. We also celebrate the triumph of Jewish traditions over the massive forces of the Hellinistic ruling class of Judea together with the military might of Greek-Syria, whose misguided …