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Beit Midrash
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- Hanukkah
- Laws of Hanukkah
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- Honoring the Parents
Shlomo’s footsteps echoed against the stillness of the night, as he neared his house. He glanced at his parents’ menorah, lovingly placed in a glass box near the front door of the house. Had the lights burned out already? Shlomo looked at his watch. 12:30? How could it be so late? Shlomo hurriedly knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Right. His mother had gone out of town for a family Chanuka party, and had slept over at her brother’s house. His father was probably sleeping, by now. Shomo let himself inside, and set his bag down on the floor.
Shlomo took out his own menorah, and began preparing the wicks, when he had a startling realization. How could he light the menorah when there was no one around to see it? No one was walking around outside at this hour, and no one was awake in the house, either. Shlomo thought for a moment. He could wake up his father! After all, Mishna Berurah ( תִּרְעַב )states clearly that if a person comes home late at night, sometime before dawn, it is proper to wake up a member of his household, so that he will be able to light properly, with a bracha.
Shlomo walked toward his father’s room, as another thought struck him. Was it really proper to wake up his father, so that Shlomo could light Chanuka candles? What about kibud av v’eim (honoring one’s parents)? Maybe his father preferred to remain sleeping. On the other hand, maybe his father would like to be woken up, to help his son do the mitzva of lighting Chanuka candles.
What should Shlomo do? Is it better for Shlomo to wake up his father, so that Shlomo will be able to light Chanuka candles, or should Shlomo let his father sleep, and lose out on lighting?
Answer of Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzal shlita:
Shlomo must make a decision based on his knowledge of his father. If Shlomo feels that his father will be upset if Shlomo wakes him up, then Shlomo should let his father sleep. However, if Shlomo knows that his father will be happy to be woken up, then Shlomo should wake him. (See Sefer Chasidim 337)
There is a well-known story in the Gemara (Kiddushin 35) regarding a non-Jew by the name of Dama ben Netina. Dama was approached by Jewish sages, who requested to purchase a precious stone from Dama, for use in the breast plate of the Kohen Gadol. Dama could have profited greatly from this sale, however, he gave up the opportunity to sell the stone, because, in order to do so, he would have had to wake up his father. The sages praised Dama for this act. The story seems unusual, because, ostensibly, one would think that Dama’s father would rather have been woken, so that the sale could have taken place. Obviously, Dama knew his father well, and understood that his father would prefer to remain asleep, rather than allow his son to make the sale.
In summary: If Shlomo thinks that his father will be happy to be woken, in order to allow his son to perform the mitzva of lighting the Chanuka candles, then Shomo should wake his father. If Shlomo thinks that his father will be upset if he is woken up, then Shlomo should let him sleep.
Peninei Halkha - Hanukkah 4. The Proper Time and Duration of Lighting
Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles
Peninei Halkha - Hanukkah 6. Delaying Candle-Lighting When Necessary
Chapter 13: When and Where to Light Hanuka Candles
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
