Enjoy this rare video clip of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Rabbi Mordechai Ben David singing “Ani Avdecha” (“I am your servant”) from Psalm 116 that we say in the “Hallel” every day during Chanukah.
On the first night of Chanukah all eight candle holders stand before you. But you light only one. Tomorrow night you shall light two. You know that eventually you will light all eight.
From which we learn two things:
1. Move step by step in life. Take things on at a pace you can handle.
2. Always grow. Always keep moving. If you did one good thing yesterday, do two today. Your ultimate achievement is always one step ahead.
[via Chabad.org]
Holtzberg and Madoff : Choose Light or Choose Darkness
[By Simon Jacobson]
A case study in contrast.
Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg. Bernard L. Madoff.
Gavriel and Rivka brought light into people’s lives, and created a global Kiddush Hashem (sanctifying G-d’s name) when they were brutally butchered by agents of darkness simply for being Jewish. They personified the Jewish virtues of charity and kindness, illuminating everyone they could reach. In the wake of their murders, which touched a deep chord, a wave of good deeds reverberated around the world.
Bernard Madoff brought darkness into people’s lives, and created a global Chilul Hashem (desecrating G-d’s name) when he massacred the financial security – and trust – of many individuals and organizations, killing in one fell swoop various charities and damaging many others, and destroying the trust in the future of all investments. He personifies greed, selfishness and self-indulgence. In the wake of his contemptible behavior, in which he single-handedly eroded the confidence necessary to keep markets alive, people are left stunned and distraught. We are wondering how far this will unravel, how many others will be implicated, and above all, what will be the resulting consequences – how will this affect the future of the entire nature of investments, hedge funds and trust in money managers?
We could not have found a starker example epitomizing the two diametric extremes on the spectrum of human behavior: the heights of ultimate nobility and self-sacrifice in Mumbai, being killed in the service of others; the depths of ignobility and self-interest in New York, hurting others in the service of oneself, cheating his own people, friends and colleagues, exploiting the trust of holocaust survivors and confidantes.
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[via Rabbi Zalmen Marozov]
Chanukah begins Sunday night. Sunday night we will kindle one candle, then each night we will light an additional candle until we light the full eight candles.
The Talmud records four different opinions about the proper way to light the Chanukah lights. Some sages say that one candle is lit for the entire household each night of Chanukah. Another opinion is that each member of the family lights one candle each night.
But the Talmudic sages, Hillel and Shamai, say that the number of candles change each night of Chanukah. However, they hold opposite opinions. Shamai maintains that on the first night of Chanukah we light eight candles, seven on the second night, six on the third and so on until the last night of Chanukah we light only one candle.
According to Shamai, the number of candles each day represent the days of Chanukah which are left to celebrate, rather than the days which already passed.
But the Talmudic sage Hillel is of the opinion that we kindle one candle the first night, two candles the second night, three the third etc. Hillel explains that we must increase the light each night, for in matters of holiness, such as mitzvot, we must increase – to go higher and higher, not down”.
We follow Hillel’s injunction by adding a candle each night of Chanukah. The Chanukah candles teach us an important lesson; that in matters of good deeds, holiness and mitzvot, we must go from strength to strength.
Q. The heroes of Chanukah were the Macabees. What does the word “Macabee” mean?
A. Macabee is an acronym for the words of the Torah: “Mi Kamocha Ba’elim Hashem” – “Who is like you among the powerful O’ G-d”. This was their slogan as they went our to war, expressing their complete trust in G-d.
Macabee also stands for: Matisyahu Kohen Ben Yochanan – Matisyahu the Priest, son of Yochanan. Matisyahu (the High Priest) and his five sons led the revolt against the occupying forces and were heroes of Chanukah..
Q. Shabbat, circumcision, and Rosh Chodesh were among the mitzvot that were prohibited at the time of the Chanukah story. How do the eight-day Chanukah celebration express our gratitude to G-d for these mitzvot?
A. As a result of Chanukah being eight days, Shabbat always falls out once and sometimes twice during Chanukah. The 8 days of Chanukah remind us of the eighth day of circumcision. And Chanukah always includes Rosh Chodesh. In fact, Chanukah is the only holiday which begins in one month (Kislev) and ends in another (Tevet), thus Rosh Chodesh is part of Chanukah.
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