Chanukah
The deepest flames are those that burn when the nights get dark and the hearts cold.
Chanukah begins in the evening of Thursday Evening, December 7- Friday Evening, December 15, 2023.
Anything compromised is Greek to those of a Divine persuasion. This is the story of the few who were victorious over the many. This is the miracle of a drop of inspiration that burned forever and on. Light is natural, and that is the greatest miracle. There are dark forces in this world that would rather drown in a storm than live in a lighthouse. For eight days and nights our fire burns, increasing in the holiness daily. We put a positive spin on everything, fry latkes, and dish out gelt (not guilt). We praise the Creator. Once upon a time the light burned supernaturally. The real miracle is that it still does.
FREE E-GUIDE: 8 Insights for 8 Nights
The Universal Message of Chanukah in Four Minutes
Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel: What Is the Kabbalistic Meaning of the Dreidel?
Chanukah celebrates what?
The word “Chanukah” comes from the word chinuch, which means “initiation.” Chanukah celebrates the renewal of the service in the Holy Temple after it was liberated from the Greek defiler, purified, and rededicated as the seat of G-d’s manifest presence in our world.
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The Missing Festival
Other than a few parenthetical references, the Mishnah makes no mention of the story and laws of Chanukah. This explains why.
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The Shamash
Still the shammash doesn’t count. An imparter of light to others, he never attains the status of a Chanukah light in his own right.
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The Mudswamps of Hella
The Rebbe expounds on Channukah: The more you fight it, the deeper you sink, your every move counteracted by this noxious blend of water and soil….
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Menorah Meditations
Exercises based on the article “Lighting Instructions”, discussing 3 lessons learned from the menorah in the Holy Temple discussed in Parshat Behalotcha.
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Mikeitz: Fanning the Flames
The Unplugged version of Samech Vov asks the relevant question: How does one’s fire remain when the inspiration begins to dim?
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Forbidden Piety
Ultimately, we must recognize and utilize the fact that the Torah is the only source of life and well-being for the Jew, both spiritually and physically.
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Fire and Earth
Through defining the Halachic term of an earthen vessel, we learn two important factors in serving G-d appropriately: Humility and Passion.
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Listen to the Flames: The Soul of the Menorah
These elements of Chanukah – the eight flickering flames, the miracle of the oil, the light shining into the dark street – beckon us to connect to the power of our soul. Our soul rises like a flame toward that which transcends itself, not only repelling darkness as is the nature of all light, but transforming the darkness into light.
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