The Talmud (Menahot 28b) states that it
is prohibited to use a seven-lamp menorah outside of the Temple. The Chanukkah
menorah used for the holiday has eight main branches, plus the raised ninth
lamp set apart as the shamash (servant) light which is used to kindle the other
lights. Most call this type of menorah a Chanukiah.
QUESTION: DO WE CALL IT A MENORAH OR A CHANUKIAH?
I am what many people call a “Modern Orthodox Jew”. Among other things, this means I celebrate Israeli Independence Day and Jerusalem Day and at these times I say the Hallel celebratory prayer while in the synagogue. This is in contrast to fellow co-religionists who are saddled with their own spiritual dogma and are unable to add religious holidays to the Jewish calendar or do not recognize the religious significance of the State of Israel.
However when it
comes to calling the festive candelabra of Chanukah a “Menorah” or a “Chanukiah”,
their erstwhile positions that are frozen in dogma thaws out a bit…it is a “Chanukiah”
and nothing else will do.
If they only knew that the Chanukiah is a late 19th century term, coined no less than by a woman (Oy,Vey), Hemda Ben-Yehuda (1873-1951), I’m sure that their Chanukiyah would morph back into being a Menorah.
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Joseph Trumpeledor, 1880-1920
One of the major aspects of Chanukah is the
spiritual and physical battles that the Maccabees fought. We commemorate
their success year after year. The Jewish people have fought many battles in
our long history.
Rav Kook understood that powerful bodies were needed for the Jewish People to succeed in the holy endeavor of rebuilding the Land of Israel. He lived in Israel at the time of Trumpeledor and Jabotinsky when you had to be physically strong.
As per Rav Kook:
Jews are not to be weaklings whom everyone can push around at will. We need not
be ashamed of our bodies. We must be strong to learn Gemara and strong to build
the Land.
The historical star of Chanukah is Judah Maccabee. He led the revolt and is famous for taking Jerusalem and restoring the Temple. We often look at his achievement as a single event. But Judah had to fight many battles before and after his claim to fame. He not only fought against the Seleucids monarchy, but against individual Greek cities, against attacking tribes and the Edomites.
One of Judah’s most important victories was against the Seleucid general Nicanor. This victory was took place on the 13th
of Adar, and was celebrated as the “Day of Nicanor”. We should reinstitute it instead of the “Fast of
Esther”.
He rescued Jewish
populations that were under attack and brought them to safety in Jerusalem. He destroyed the altars and statues of pagan
gods in Ashdod. Often he was not only fighting against Greek-Syrian troops, but
against Hellenized Jews. Finally when the
war against external enemies came to an end he had to deal with internal
struggles between his party and the Hellenist party.
MAX’S PARSHAT VAYEISHEV & CHANUKAH QUIZ QUESTIONS
BS”D
Max has come up with a quiz that relates to the Parshat Vayeishev Torah portion and the Festival of Chanukah which begins Thursday night. Here are his questions. Do your best.
Answers are appended to the conclusion of the post.
Stay Inside; Stay Safe and Stay Healthy. Wear your mask.
Shavua tov and Chag Sameach,
Mick
1-Which 3-Jewish observances the Kingdom of Greece wanted to halt ?
2-What is the most precious mitzvah in CHANUKAH?
3-How long should the CHANUKAH Candle burn ?
4-Which blessings are recited each night prior to lighting the candles ?
5-Who is exempt from the mitzvah of lightning the candles ?
6-Are women obligated in the mitzvah to light CHANUKAH candles ?
7-What practices are forbidden on CHANUKAH?
8-What special prayers are added during the eight days of CHANUKAH?
9-When did the CHANUKAH miracle take Place ?
10-What is preferred to use candles or oil , and what type?
11-What was the last Halacha that Jacob taught Yosef before separating ?
12-Why are goats used on Rosh Chodesh & Yom Kippur to atone for sins !
13-Why did Yehuda lose his wife and two of his children ?
14-How many incidents of "deadly jealousy " can be found in Tanach ?
15-What does the story of Yosef have to do with the miracle of CHANUKAH?
16-Why is the Pidyon Haben accomplished through five Shekalim ?
17-Why Yehuda marry Tamar, his daughter in law, after she was widowed ?
18-Who was the first genuine "Baal TESHUVA " ?
19-Which women merited giving birth to Twins as a reward for Modesty ?
20-Why must we give a Half-Shekel annually to the Beis Hamikdash ?
21-How old was Yosef when he was tested by Potiphar Wife ?
22-when was a descendant of Rachel jealous of a descendant of Leah ?
23-Why were 3-descendants of Yehuda miraculously spared from fire ?
24-In whose ZECHUS did the Red Sea split for Am YISRAEL ?
25-Why was Potifar's wife compared to an animal
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וְעַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַפֻּרְקָן וְעַל הַגְּבוּרוֹת
וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת שֶׁעָשִׂיתָה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָמִים
הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
And for the miracles and for the wonders and
for the mighty deeds and for the salvations and for the victories that you
wrought for our ancestors in their days and in this day
בִּימֵי מַתִּתְיָהוּ בֶּן יוֹחָנָן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל חַשׁמוֹנַאי
וּבְנָיו כְּשֶׁעָמְדָה מַלְכוּת יָוָן הָרְשָׁעָה עַל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל
לְהַשְׁכִּיחָם תּוֹרָתֶךָ וּלְהַעֲבִירָם מֵחֻקֵּי רְצוֹנֶךָ
In the days of Mattathias son of Yohanan the
high priest, the Hasmonean, and his sons, when the evil kingdom of Greece stood
against your people Israel in order to make them forget your Torah and violate
your laws.
אַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים
עָמַדְתָּ לָהֶם בְּעֵת צָרָתָם רַבְתָּ אֶת רִיבָם דַּנְתָּ אֶת דִּינָם
נָקַמְתָּ אֶת נִקְמָתָם
You, in your enormous mercy, stood up for them
in their time of great need, upheld their cause, judged their case, and avenged
their oppressors.
מָסַרְתָּ גִּבּוֹרִים בְּיַד חַלָּשִׁים וְרַבִּים בְּיַד
מְעַטִּים וּטְמֵאִים בְּיַד טְהוֹרִים וּרְשָׁעִים בְּיַד צַדִּיקִים וְזֵדִים
בְּיַד עוֹסְקֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ
You delivered the mighty into the hands of the
week, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the
pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the degenerates into the
hands of those who cling to your Torah
וּלְךָ עַשִׂיתָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל וְקָדוֹשׁ בְּעוֹלָמֶךָ וּלְעַמְּךָ
יִשְׂרָאֵל עָשִׂיתָ תְּשׁוּעָה גְדוֹלָה וּפֻרְקָן כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶה
And you made for yourself a great and holy
name in your world, and performed a great salvation and miracle for your people
Israel, as you do today
וְאַחַר כֵּן בָּאוּ בָנֶיךָ לִדְבִיר בֵּיתֶךָ וּפִנּוּ אֶת
הֵיכָלֶךָ וְטִהֲרוּ אֶת מִקְדָּשֶׁךָ וְהִדְלִיק נֵרוֹת בְּחַצְרוֹת קָדְשֶׁךָ
וְקָבְעוּ שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה אֵלּוּ לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵל לְשִׁמְךָ
הַגָּדוֹל
And afterward, your children came to the Holy
of Holies in your House, and they cleansed your Palace and purified your Temple
and they kindled lights in the courtyard of your Sanctuary and they established
these eight days of Hanukkah to give thanks and to praise your great name.
The question is: Why is it incumbent
upon to say this prayer for all generations?
As Adapted from Rav Kook: The Answer has to do with
the conflict against the ancient Greek culture known as Hellenism. Despite the
disastrous short-term effects of Hellenism, this cultural philosophy ultimately
has bestowed great benefits on civilization.
There are some who believe that as a basic rule of
life the challenges that confront us and threaten our beliefs and way of life
will in the end invigorate the sources of truth. Greek wisdom, after it has
acknowledged the Divine nature of Torah, will serve to further honor and
strengthen the Torah and its ideals. This aspect of ancient Greek culture
will defend and enhance the Torah in the future.
For me the answer lies not in Hashem “delivering the mighty into the hands of the weak” or “and the wanton sinners into the hands of those who occupy themselves with Your Torah” and for cleansing the Temple. For me the answer is to militarily crush our enemies who seek to physically and/or spiritually destroy us.
Interesting enough the prayer does not refer to the miracle of the oil, but on military victories.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Before lighting the Chanukah lights, we recite the
blessing, “Who sanctified us with His mitzvot and commanded us to kindle the
Chanukah light.”
Rav Kook asks: Why does the blessing refer to a
single light?
The lights of Chanukah are a metaphor for the
blessings of enlightenment that the Jewish people bestow to the world.
When you light, you advance that specific light which corresponds to the inner
makeup of your soul. When this happens, the entire people of Israel are
enriched. However, your specific light may be different from mine.
Sometimes they may be in conflict.
But these conflicts will not exist forever. In the
future it will become clear that all of the different lights share a common
root, and are really one single light. Therefore, the blessing of Chanukah,
which also encompasses the future potential, speaks of a single “Chanukah light.”
(Adapted from Rav Kook by Chanan Morrison).
------------------------------------------------------
Chanukah
is also known as the Festival of Lights.
By 165 BCE, our revolt against
the Seleucid monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated and rededicated.
Judah Maccabee ordered the Temple to be
cleansed and a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one.
According to the Talmud (Shabbat 21b), unadulterated pure olive oil with the seal of the Kohen Gadol was needed for the menorah in the Temple. The menorah was required to burn throughout the night every night. Only one flask was found, and it had only enough oil to burn for one day, yet it burned for eight days. It was enough time to prepare a fresh supply of kosher oil for the menorah. Because of this an eight-day festival was declared by our Sages to commemorate this miracle.
In the First Book of Maccabees an eight-day celebration of songs and sacrifices was proclaimed upon re-dedication of the altar, and it makes no mention of the miracle of the oil.
This photo is of a button-size seal or bulla.
It says as, best as I can make out: “crushed for Hashem”, דכא ליה
One can speculate that it is the seal of a Kohen, and was once attached to
a jug of pure olive oil.
----------------------------------------
MAX’S PARSHAT VAYEISHEV & CHANUKAH QUIZ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
BS”D
Max has come up with a quiz that relates
to the Parshat Vayeishev Torah portion and the Festival of
Chanukah which begins Thursday night. Here
are his questions and answers. Did you
do your best?
Stay Inside; Stay Safe and Stay
Healthy. Wear your mask.
Shavua tov and Chag Sameach,
Mick
1-Which 3-Jewish observances the Kingdom of
Greece wanted to halt ?
1-Circumcision, 2-Guarding Shabbat,
3-Sanctifying The New Moon
> 2-What is the most precious mitzvah in
CHANUKA?
Lightning the CHANUKA Candles
> 3-How long should the CHANUKA Candle burn
?
At least half an hour on regular day, &
one Hour on EREV Shabbat
> 4-Which blessings are recited each nite
prior to lighting the candles ?
First nite (3)-L'Hadlik NER CHANUKA, She'Asa
Nissim, and Sheheyanu
All other nites (2)-L'Hadlik NER CHANUKA, -and
She'Asa Nisim
> 5-Who is exempt from the mitzvah of
lightning the candles ?
Deaf People, Insane People, boys under 13,
& Girls under 12
> 6-Are women obligated in the mitzvah to
light CHANUKA candles ?
Women and Girls who are 12-years and one day
old are obligated
> 7-What practices are forbidden on
CHANUKA?
No Fasting, No saying Viduy, no Tachanumim,
& no Eulogies
> 8-What special prayers are added during
the eight days of CHANUKA?
Every day Complete Hallel, Insert Al Hanissim
in Amidah & Benching
> 9-When did the CHANUKA miracle took Place
?
During the Second Temple Era
> 10-What is preferred to use candles or
oil , and what type?
It is preferred to use oil over candles, and
to use Olive Oil
> 11-What was the last Halacha that Jacob
taught Yosef before separating ?
The Mitzvah #530, the Mitzvah of Eglah Arufa,
(breaking neck of the Heifer)
> 12-Why are goats used on Rosh Chodesh
& Yom Kippur to atone for sins !
When Yosef was sold , his coat was dipped in
Goat's Blood for cover up
> 13-Why did Yehuda lose his wife and two
of his children ?
As a punishment for not saving his Brother
Yosef
> 14-How many incidents of "deadly
jealousy " can be found in Tanach ?
Many: Kayin
/ Hevel, Eisav / Jacob, Yosef \ His Brothers , Korach /Moshe
King Shaul / David, Yoav \ Abner, Yeravam /
Rechavan, & Achav / Nevayos
> 15-What does the story of Yosef have to
do with miracle of CHANUKA?
Just as oil floats to the top, so too Yosef
rose above the Egyptians
> 16-Why is the Pidyon Haben accomplished
through five Shekalim ?
Yosef was sold for 20-Silver Selaim =
5-Shekalim =1/2 Shekel per brother
> 17-Why Yehuda marry Tamar , his daughter
in law, after she was widowed ?
Because in those days "Yibum " was
permitted with any relative
> 18-Who was the first genuine "Baal TESHUVA " ?
Reuven became the first Authentic Baal
TESHUVA,
> 19-Which women merited giving birth to
Twins as a reward for Modesty ?
Two famous women conducted themselves with
Modesty, Rivkah & Tamar
> 20-Why must we give a Half-Shekel
annually to the Beis Hamikdash ?
To atone for Jewish People Sin , especially
the sale of Yosef
> 21-How old was Yosef when he was tested
by Potiphar Wife ?
Yosef was 17-Years old
> 22-when was a descendant of Rachel
jealous of a descendant of Leah ?
The Descendant of Rachel ( Shaul ) was Jealous
of David from Leah
> 23-Why were 3-descendants of Yehuda
miraculously spared from fire ?
Yehuda spared Tamar and her twins from death
by fire , as a result
His descendants, Chananya, Mishael, and Azarya
were saved from fire
> 24-In whose ZECHUS did the Red Sea split
for Am YISRAEL ?
Merit that Yosef fled from the Yetzer Hara,
the sea fled as well
> 25-Why was Potifar's wife compared to an
animal ?
Because she had no Shame to commit adultery,
acting like wild beast
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