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But there was a ray of light emanating from all of this frustration - this brilliant article emerged from the dark recesses of my brain. By painful and exacting scientific research I discovered that the fault with the oil cups lay not with the oil but rather with the wicks. They just don’t draw the oil very well. And no matter how perfect the oil may be, poor wicks will frustrate lighting the holy lights every time. I think that is somewhat true of our current Jewish society as well. We possess an almost inexhaustible supply of great oil - Torah knowledge, scholars, talent and numbers. But most of it somehow never sees the light of day. There are not enough efficient wicks - teachers, rabbis, heroes, leaders - that are willing and able to extract the oil and transform it into lights to guide and illuminate us. Leadership cannot be taught but it certainly can be nurtured and encouraged. There has to be incentive not only to fill the cup of oil and gain great Torah knowledge for one’s self but also as importantly to become a wick and spread the light of Torah to a people mainly ignorant of its heritage and glorious past and demanding destiny. And to do so young scholars and potential leaders have to be willing to seemingly sacrifice some of their own schedules and spiritual comforts in order to serve the God and people of Israel. Concern for the spiritual welfare of other Jews is a supreme value that must be reinforced at every level of our educational system. "If I am only for myself, then what am I?" Hillel was interested not only in the oil but in the wicks as well.
The commentators point out that the miracle of the Chanuka lights in the Temple was a later replay of the miracle of Elisha with the widow of the prophet Ovadia. There Elisha told her to amass vessels - unlimited in amount - in order to start the oil pouring from the small flask of oil that she had in her house. He told her not to be stingy or cautious about the number of vessels that she acquired. She did so, at least to her mind and satisfaction, borrowing great numbers of vessels from her neighbors and friends and miraculously the small flask of oil was able to fill all of the vessels that she had on hand. Excitedly, she watched the oil that would save her and her family from poverty and servitude pour into the vessels. When she asked for more vessels to fill with the oil, her children told her that there were no more vessels. Immediately the oil stopped flowing. There is no shortage of miraculous oil that the Jewish people possess. It only lacks vessels, wicks that contain the oil and bring light and radiance to others. This is also a frustrating task, convincing people of the necessary altruism to help others also have some oil and spiritual light in their lives. But I think that this is part of the lesson that the Hasmoneans intended to impart to us. May the recently departed lights of Chanuka continue to illuminate our path in goodness and health.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
