Posted by in Uncategorized Music and singing are a big part of my spirituality. I am lifted up by the melodies new and old whether for Shabbat or for a holiday at Chanukah. It my house after lighting the Chanukiyah we always pick a Chanukah favorite to sing. Some nights it is “Chanukah O Chanukah, come light the menorah….”…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized On the sixth night and day of Chanukah we think about the wonders of lakes and sufganiot. Latkes are traditionally potato pancakes but can also be made out of other vegetables like sweet potato, spinach,carrot and even zucchini. Everyone has their favorite recipe some call for flour added others like their unadulterated with just the shredded vegetable mixed…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Tonight we light candle five of Eight! The glow of the Chanukiah gets brighter with each passing day. One of the interesting parts of Chanukah is that you cannot use the light or heat of the Chanukiah for anything. You can’t warm your hands from the heat of the flames. You are not supposed to…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized One half of the Chanukiah is lit by the fourth day! The holiday is zooming by and hard to believe that it goes so fast. I try not to get up in the buy a present, give a gift to all. Perhaps that may seem a bit “Scrooge-ish”. I don’t mean it to be “Bah Humbug”. But…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized With the setting of the sun on December 13 the third day of Chanukah for 5770 begins. On this third day we focus on the Maccabees. They were the sons of Mattathias the priest from Modi’in. They followed in their father’s footsteps taking on the Syrian-Greek army who did the will of King Antiochus in oppressing the Jewish…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Tonight is the second night/day of Chanukah! The menorah begins to fill with the newest light placed to the left of last night’s candle on the far right! We always light the newest candle first. And so we have doubled the light that shines out from the first level of the Chanukiah. The Shamash is…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Tonight is the first light and first night of Chanukah! Happy Chanukah! This is a holiday of miracles. And tonight is the first taste of that miracle. The rabbis of old taught that the story of Chanukah was about the miracle of the oil. In Shabbat 21b of the Talmud the Rabbis write: What is…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized A Torah Commentary Parshat Vayeshev Genesis 37:1 – 40:23 The holiday of Chanukah begins this coming Friday night when we light the first candle. Once a minor holiday Chanukah has risen in prominence and importance because of the proximity of the holiday to Christmas and Jews not wanting ever to be second class citizens, have…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized What do I do to prepare for Chanukah? The first thing I do is figure out the candle situation. I mean afterall I always have extra Chanukah candles around. Although each box of 45 candles will be the exact number you need to get through the holiday for one menorah/chanukiah, I always have half used…Read more »
Posted by in Uncategorized Are you ready for Chanukah? It begins this coming Friday night, December 11! Eight days of light and joy for you and your family and the world. The chanukiah –which is the nine branched menorah–fills our homes with a special glow. It reminds us of the struggle of the Maccabees, a family of priests who…Read more »
Walking Humbly. Seeking Justice. Living with Hope. 