42 classes & essays
Chanukah
Chanukah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greeks and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days when the Temple was rededicated. Each night we add another light to the menorah, placing it where it illuminates the darkness outside.
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Essays
Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah Menorah and the Mezuzah Where does one light the Chanukah Menorah? In many communities the custom is to light it near a window so that it can be seen from… Holidays Chanukah – A Heavenly Symphony Of all the Holidays, Chanukah stands out because it reveals a deeper part of our soul’s treasure than most other Holidays. This will dispel the myth that Chanukah is a minor holiday. A Holiday that can touch and kindle the soul of can touch soul of every Jew and reveal the uncontaminated core of eve Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah and Jewish Education (2) Only by preserving the integrity of Torah, by giving our children a Torah education that emphasizes its relevance to our lives, can we dispel the darkness of exile and usher in the ultimate Redemption. At that time, G-d will remove all the impurity from the world and “the world will be filled with t Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah and the Light of Moshiach True light – the light of the first day of creation; the light of Chanukah – is defined as the ability to see the inner dimension of existence. Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah and Education In Jewish education, there are times when a child (and the child within us) has to know that he or she must search, probe, question and seek answers. Never be satisfied with what we now understand. The child must also know that there are certain things that are elusive; they are beyond us and for wh Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah and Throwing Joseph Into the Pit Lighting the Menorah represents the introduction of truly sublime levels of spiritual light into our Earthly realm that transcends the normal levels of spirituality. The ultimate goal is to make the transcendence “visible” and accessible to the lower levels, so that everyone is illuminated and basks Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah and Tradition Chanukah is an obsession with optimism, excellence, hope and certainty. An attitude like this can only exist for those who Judaism is a part of life. When it comes to life, we don't want compromised life. We want and we seek to live our lives to the fullest. Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah Deleted! Chanukah is the defeat of those who wanted us to forget. Forgetfulness is a product of alienation from our G-dly soul. Tanya explains that the reason we forget is because our Animal Soul governs us. Because it is a natural soul, it follows the laws of nature for things to continually deteriorate and Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah: Major or Minor Leagues? The light of Chanukah is representative of the light G-d created the first day of creation. This light was not sunlight but a spiritual force too powerful for an imperfect world to experience and enjoy, so, our sages tell us, G-d concealed this light for the future Messianic Age. However, when the H Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah “R” Rated (Restricted) for Children Only Adults Must Be Accompanied by a Child CHANUKAH “R” RATED (RESTRICTED): Chanukah is a children’s holiday. The very word Chanukah derives from the Hebrew word “chinuch”… Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah: Vive Le Light It is not enough for us to realize our natural potential – symbolized by the number seven, the highest number in the natural order. Even as we light the seventh light, we observe an empty space on the menorah for an eighth light. It beckons and challenges us to beyond our nature and realize the clim Holidays Chanukah – Eight and Not Seven The very essence of Chanukah is praise and thanksgiving and not just joy. Lighting the menorah – as an expression of praise and thanksgiving – is what characterizes the holiday and not just something that we do during Chanukah. Underlying this approach is the notion that the greatest form of thanksg Holidays Chanukah – Fat Is the Culprit When the Holy Temple was recaptured by the famed Maccabees, they searched for a bottle of oil that still had the High Priest's seal. Although they were allowed to use tainted oil, they would not do so, for then they would have won the war but lost the battle. Holidays Chanukah – Greek Darkness and Chanukah Light The Rebbe explains why the Greeks did not destroy the oil but only contaminated it with the Greek “touch.” Their objective was to remove the sanctity from the Temple and all of Judaism. Holidays Chanukah – Inside and Outside In previous generations, the “outside” started at the entrance to our homes. If there was any darkness, it was not coming from within. אhe Chanukah lights that were kindled on the entrances of our homes had the positive effect of bringing some light into the “street.” Holidays Chanukah – Transforming the Rebels The objective of the lighting of the Chanukah lights goes well beyond dispelling the darkness associated with rebelliousness. Its true goal is to transform defiance into an extraordinary and unconventional positive force.