Chanukah Edition -- 25 Kislev, 5771 / December 1, 2010 -- Vol. 2, Issue 4
Chanukah is a remarkable holiday filled with miracles of long ago. It is interesting to note that the second blessing which we recite when light the Chanukah candles states, “Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.”
Why does the blessing say „at this time‟? Seemingly, it should end with the words „at that time‟! This teaches us an important lesson. Miracles happen daily, however it is up to us to open our eyes so we can see them. I heard a beautiful idea from Rabbi Paysach Krohn, which my family has instituted at our dinner table. We each share an experience where we saw the Hand of G-d that day. Through doing this, we are training ourselves to see G-d in everyday occurrences.
The word Chanukah has several meanings. It can be broken up into two words, chanu - meaning they rested, and kah - meaning the 25th, for on the 25th they rested from the battle with their enemies. Though the Jewish people rested, it does not mean that they were complacent. Even when we overcome an obstacle, we should not spend too much time resting, for we must set a new goal to start working towards.
I can tell you from personal experience that setting and reaching goals is easier with proper planning. It also requires unity by mobilizing ones team and boosting morale. Being a leader is not about commanding, but rather leading by example and illuminating and bringing to light the talents of one’s teammates. I have therefore included some tips on organization, unity, and leadership in this issue.
Why does the blessing say „at this time‟? Seemingly, it should end with the words „at that time‟! This teaches us an important lesson. Miracles happen daily, however it is up to us to open our eyes so we can see them. I heard a beautiful idea from Rabbi Paysach Krohn, which my family has instituted at our dinner table. We each share an experience where we saw the Hand of G-d that day. Through doing this, we are training ourselves to see G-d in everyday occurrences.
The word Chanukah has several meanings. It can be broken up into two words, chanu - meaning they rested, and kah - meaning the 25th, for on the 25th they rested from the battle with their enemies. Though the Jewish people rested, it does not mean that they were complacent. Even when we overcome an obstacle, we should not spend too much time resting, for we must set a new goal to start working towards.
I can tell you from personal experience that setting and reaching goals is easier with proper planning. It also requires unity by mobilizing ones team and boosting morale. Being a leader is not about commanding, but rather leading by example and illuminating and bringing to light the talents of one’s teammates. I have therefore included some tips on organization, unity, and leadership in this issue.
Chanukah Edition -- 28 Kislev 5772 / December 24, 2011 -- Vol. 3, Issue 4
_There are several ways that one can fulfill the
mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah menorah.
One can use wax candles, beeswax candles, paraffin, and an assortment of
oils. However, the most preferable way
of lighting the menorah is using olive oil.
Why olive oil? One reason is that
this is the oil that the Jewish people used to light the menorah in the Holy
Temple and it was with olive oil that the miracle occurred. Yet, there is another reason.
If you’re like me and you like to spend time in the kitchen cooking (and eating), then you have most likely mixed and blended many different types of concoctions. Most items, like sugar, salt, water, milk, vinegar, tomato juice, and flour, when mixed together combine to form a new entity. Oil, on the other hand, has a resiliency unparalleled by any other ingredient. It simply refuses to be permanently mixed with another. Yes, you can temporarily combine it to form a tasty salad dressing, but if you leave it long enough, it slowly but surely collects itself and retreats, uniting with its oil particle friends.
We begin the first night of Chanukah by lighting one light on the menorah and each day adding another until we reach eight luminous lights. Why not start by lighting eight the first night and decrease by one each night? Or, why not light eight lights each and every night?
The Jewish people can be compared to oil. Though we are spread throughout the entire world, living amongst many nations, we must be careful not to allow our Yiddishkeit to become diluted or blended. Rather we must stay united and resilient. This is most effectively accomplished when one is always increasing in their endeavours. If today you did six mitzvahs, tomorrow do seven. If today you helped two people, tomorrow help three. And if today you thought about exploring your Judaism, then tomorrow take action and do it.
Chanukah isn’t only about revealing our inner light and allowing our soul shine, but increasing the flame and illuminating the world, thus lighting the way for Moshiach.
If you’re like me and you like to spend time in the kitchen cooking (and eating), then you have most likely mixed and blended many different types of concoctions. Most items, like sugar, salt, water, milk, vinegar, tomato juice, and flour, when mixed together combine to form a new entity. Oil, on the other hand, has a resiliency unparalleled by any other ingredient. It simply refuses to be permanently mixed with another. Yes, you can temporarily combine it to form a tasty salad dressing, but if you leave it long enough, it slowly but surely collects itself and retreats, uniting with its oil particle friends.
We begin the first night of Chanukah by lighting one light on the menorah and each day adding another until we reach eight luminous lights. Why not start by lighting eight the first night and decrease by one each night? Or, why not light eight lights each and every night?
The Jewish people can be compared to oil. Though we are spread throughout the entire world, living amongst many nations, we must be careful not to allow our Yiddishkeit to become diluted or blended. Rather we must stay united and resilient. This is most effectively accomplished when one is always increasing in their endeavours. If today you did six mitzvahs, tomorrow do seven. If today you helped two people, tomorrow help three. And if today you thought about exploring your Judaism, then tomorrow take action and do it.
Chanukah isn’t only about revealing our inner light and allowing our soul shine, but increasing the flame and illuminating the world, thus lighting the way for Moshiach.
Chanukah: The Flood
Planning and organizing; two of my worst enemies. And when they combine forces, they are nearly unstoppable. Don’t misunderstand me, it isn’t that I don’t enjoy being organized and I recognize the immense benefits of planning in advance rather than just flying by the seat of my pants. But for some reason, it’s almost as if I’m allergic to advanced preparedness and thorough organization.
I have my own system of organizing. It may appear like a mess to everyone else, but really, I know exactly when and where everything is. Okay, fine, it may be a mess, but it is an organized mess. Ettie, on the other hand, has list after list of what needs to be done, ranked in priority of urgency and deadline, with each task delegated. She instantly knows where to find a specific pen, some change for Tzedakah, or the lone glove that we put aside to use as a puppet.
This approach to life, one of organization and methodical preparation, is particularly helpful when planning a gathering. Being that it is the joyous holiday of Chanukah and Ettie’s birthday is on the first night, we decided to have a farbrengen, a get-together, in honour of these two miracles. After some thought, we determined that the best night to have the party would be Motzei Shabbos.
Now, I have to admit that having a party only 2 hours after Shabbos ends is quite the daunting task. In order for it to go smoothly there is no denying that planning and organizing must be employed to the fullest extent. So early in the week we cleaned the house, did the shopping, and even had everything chopped, cooked, fried, and baked by Friday mid-day. The only thing left to do was come home after Shabbos to a spotless home, set the table, and warm up the latkes. I have to say that I felt a sense of calmness and inner peace going into Shabbos knowing that every-thing was done, and I revelled in my ability to take the mature approach and prepare in advance. I thought to myself, “I could get used to this. Organizing and planning as dull and un-pleasant as they can be, are also pretty great. I feel so relaxed and unstressed; I think I’ll start to be more organized from now on.”
After spending Shabbos at a friend’s home, we arrived at our “spotless apartment,” and opened the door to an unsuspecting and most interesting scenario. As if in slow motion I looked to the floor, realizing that it was glistening. Hmmm that’s weird. Then I heard a familiar and unsettling sound; drip….drip…..drip. My eyes immediately darted to the sink, only to see that the faucet was dripping directly onto a glass cutting board. And in a split second it all registered, as I realized the beautiful picturesque sparkle on the floor was the inch of water it was completely covered in.
Calculations quickly start filling my mind. Time: 6:00pm. Time the party was called for: 7:30pm. How many towels we’d need to clean up: way more than we had. Slowly but surely I felt that sense of calmness slip away as I wondered how we would get everything cleaned in time. I pictured everyone arriving 15 minutes early to an unset table, a room full of dirty water soaked towels and me in my Shabbos clothes and blue crocs asking the crowd to please be patient as we would be ready to entertain momentarily.
But you know what? With the help of family and many, many towels the water was cleaned up and the get together went off without a hitch. Now this isn’t to say that planning and organizing isn’t beneficial, because it definitely is. However, to truly succeed, one needs more than just preparation, organization and planning. In fact, we can see this from the Chanukah story.
After defeating the Greeks, the Maccabees entered the Beis HaMikdash. Although they were prepared for a devastating mess knowing the Greeks had tainted the Holy Temple, they weren’t aware of the extent to which the Temple had been defiled. They were then completely shocked to find only one jar of un-touched oil with the seal of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) still intact. However, despite all this they approached the situation, a seemingly dire one indeed, with alacrity and positivity. They were quick to clean up the Temple and just as swift to relight the Menorah with the full-fledged belief that Hashem would help them if they reached down inside themselves and used their inner strength to meet the challenge.
This is one of the many lessons of Chanukah, and our flood. Planning and organizing are necessary and commendable, but they must be complimented by a strong will to embrace each and every unexpected turn with zest, enthusiasm, and trust in the Almighty!
I have my own system of organizing. It may appear like a mess to everyone else, but really, I know exactly when and where everything is. Okay, fine, it may be a mess, but it is an organized mess. Ettie, on the other hand, has list after list of what needs to be done, ranked in priority of urgency and deadline, with each task delegated. She instantly knows where to find a specific pen, some change for Tzedakah, or the lone glove that we put aside to use as a puppet.
This approach to life, one of organization and methodical preparation, is particularly helpful when planning a gathering. Being that it is the joyous holiday of Chanukah and Ettie’s birthday is on the first night, we decided to have a farbrengen, a get-together, in honour of these two miracles. After some thought, we determined that the best night to have the party would be Motzei Shabbos.
Now, I have to admit that having a party only 2 hours after Shabbos ends is quite the daunting task. In order for it to go smoothly there is no denying that planning and organizing must be employed to the fullest extent. So early in the week we cleaned the house, did the shopping, and even had everything chopped, cooked, fried, and baked by Friday mid-day. The only thing left to do was come home after Shabbos to a spotless home, set the table, and warm up the latkes. I have to say that I felt a sense of calmness and inner peace going into Shabbos knowing that every-thing was done, and I revelled in my ability to take the mature approach and prepare in advance. I thought to myself, “I could get used to this. Organizing and planning as dull and un-pleasant as they can be, are also pretty great. I feel so relaxed and unstressed; I think I’ll start to be more organized from now on.”
After spending Shabbos at a friend’s home, we arrived at our “spotless apartment,” and opened the door to an unsuspecting and most interesting scenario. As if in slow motion I looked to the floor, realizing that it was glistening. Hmmm that’s weird. Then I heard a familiar and unsettling sound; drip….drip…..drip. My eyes immediately darted to the sink, only to see that the faucet was dripping directly onto a glass cutting board. And in a split second it all registered, as I realized the beautiful picturesque sparkle on the floor was the inch of water it was completely covered in.
Calculations quickly start filling my mind. Time: 6:00pm. Time the party was called for: 7:30pm. How many towels we’d need to clean up: way more than we had. Slowly but surely I felt that sense of calmness slip away as I wondered how we would get everything cleaned in time. I pictured everyone arriving 15 minutes early to an unset table, a room full of dirty water soaked towels and me in my Shabbos clothes and blue crocs asking the crowd to please be patient as we would be ready to entertain momentarily.
But you know what? With the help of family and many, many towels the water was cleaned up and the get together went off without a hitch. Now this isn’t to say that planning and organizing isn’t beneficial, because it definitely is. However, to truly succeed, one needs more than just preparation, organization and planning. In fact, we can see this from the Chanukah story.
After defeating the Greeks, the Maccabees entered the Beis HaMikdash. Although they were prepared for a devastating mess knowing the Greeks had tainted the Holy Temple, they weren’t aware of the extent to which the Temple had been defiled. They were then completely shocked to find only one jar of un-touched oil with the seal of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) still intact. However, despite all this they approached the situation, a seemingly dire one indeed, with alacrity and positivity. They were quick to clean up the Temple and just as swift to relight the Menorah with the full-fledged belief that Hashem would help them if they reached down inside themselves and used their inner strength to meet the challenge.
This is one of the many lessons of Chanukah, and our flood. Planning and organizing are necessary and commendable, but they must be complimented by a strong will to embrace each and every unexpected turn with zest, enthusiasm, and trust in the Almighty!
