Chanukah Dvar Torah by Shlomo Yosef Marks
We all know the famous question in Gemorah Shabbos of "Mai Chanukah", what is Chanukah? One would answer that Chanukah is the dedication when you annoint with oils, make a party, and give speeches.
The Daleyos Yechezkel(R' Yechezkel Sarna zt"l) offers a different answer to this question. There is a Medrash that there was a Chanukah by Briyas HaOlam, by the Mishkan, and by Chanukah. What connection is there between Briyas Haolom and Chanukah? The answer is that Chanukah means the completion, the culmination, the mixing of all ingredients, weaving all materials into one garment. By Briyas Haolom, all six days were completed by Shabbos. By the Mishkan, the completion was the Chanukas Habayis.
With this new understanding of what Chanukah means, we can now answer a different question of why the miracle of Chanukah is so focused on the oil and not on the fact that the Chashmoneim defeated the Greeks even though the odds were stacked against them. (The miracle with the oil even had happened already by Elisha).
The reason is that the miracle of the Menorah was the completion of the nissim that Hashem did for Jews at that time. It was the grand finale. The purpose of the other nissim was to rebuild the Bais Hamikdash. We see from here that there is a unique power and great segulah for a person who finishes a M'aaseh.
So the Chanukah candles can teach us how important it is to finish the Mitzvos that you begin.
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Alumni/WITS Annual Basketball Game/Melava Malka
Motzoi Shabbos January 5th 8:15 PM at JCC in Milwaukee followed by Melava Malka at WITS
Come
for Shabbos to Milwaukee or Chicago, arrive Jan 4th, and leave Sunday
afternoon January 6th. Tickets range from $200 to $250 after taxes.
 midwestexpress.com
 jetblue.com
Bring
the WITS trophy back to the Alumni after the devastating defeat
suffered in 2005. Show Chuck and Bob Giles that you still have it.
Email me at alumni@witsyeshiva.com for more info.
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Mach-WITS a Shekel Update
We fell just short of the Chanukah membership goal of 50 as there are currently 49 members. Hopefully, the remaining 762 alumni will sign on soon! Join now at $10, $25, $50, or $100 a month. Make your first donation at the new WITS Alumni Donation page- new donation pageYou can also make a one time donation at that page. Cash in your Chanukah gelt!
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New Weekly Archive Page
Did you forget to forward your friend the WITS weekly that had your picture in it? Don't fret- the new archive page is up at new archive site.
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WITS Alumni Annual National Melava Malka
Motzoi Shabbos February 9th, 2008 8:00 PM
Az Yashir Torah Center in Brooklyn, New York- 1301 East 18th Street
"Bring Back the Good Times of WITS"
-featuring kosher comedian/juggler Michael Rosman(funnymichael.com)
 - wives are welcome
- delicious food
- reunite with all your old WITS friends
- divrai Torah
- have a laugh!
- send in your videos of your kosher comedic/juggling talent to alumni @witsyeshiva.com. Compilation to be played at the Melava Malka. I know WITS has lots of jugglers/comedians out there. Don't be shy!
Be a sponsor of the event - help cover the costs of this extraordinary get-together. Sponsor it at the $100, $500, or $1000 levels.
Go to WITS alumni donation page or contact me at alumni@witsyeshiva.com. |
