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One of the great and holy Russian Jewish refuseniks records in his memoirs his determination to light Chanuka lights while imprisoned in the Russian prison. Since he did not have a calendar - Jewish calendars were very rare in Communist Russia even for those not officially incarcerated in prison - he was unaware as to the exact dates of Chanuka. Nevertheless he was determined to light his little candle. He saved scrapings of the meager soap allowance granted him to use as fuel and tore threads from his prison uniform to serve as his wicks. And in a cold Russian prison he clandestinely lit his little light, hidden by his body from the KGB prison warders on a night that he hoped was Chanuka. A few years later when he reached Israel and related his story of the Chanuka light in prison a great rabbi informed him that he had performed the mitzvah limhadrin min hamehadrin - in the highest and most holy fashion possible. The darkness of the evil empire that was the Soviet Union was eventually overcome by the little lights kindled in the recesses of its prisons by Jews who believed in the power of good to overcome the forces of evil. In the eyes of Heaven so to speak a little light means a great deal. It displays our commitment to goodness and righteousness, tradition and holiness and is thus treasured dearly both in heaven and on earth. It is what gives Chanuka its special place in Jewish hearts and souls.
This week the Jewish world will light its little lights of Chanuka. Many have ornate silver menorahs to hold those little lights. Others will make do with more simple and modest candle holders. No matter, for it is not the candle holder that is the main object in the lighting of the Chanuka fires - it is the little light itself that carries all of the weight and importance of the holiday and its holy meaning. Once when my children were very young I explained to them that they should not feel badly that I was using an elaborate rabbinic silver menorah for my Chanuka lights while they had clay menorahs that they had made in school. One of my children assuaged my anxiety by saying: "Don’t worry, Daddy, my candle will burn as brightly as yours does!" How correct was that statement. It is after all the little lights that count. It is they that drive away the hopelessness and pessimism that the darkness of the surrounding world thrusts upon us. Chanuka comes to reinforce the good angels that lie within all of us. It teaches us that nothing is impossible in God’s world and that evil eventually will not prevail against us. Chanuka is the right holiday at the right time for us here in present day Israel. Let us always remember that a little light can truly overcome a great deal of darkness.
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
