ב"ה
Chanukah 5770 - December 11-19, 2009
Holidays
Celebrate Chanukah!
Visit our Chanukah mega-site for the story of the festival, how-to guides, Chanukah event finder, videos & songs, insights, stories, kids section and more...
Visit our Chanukah mega-site for the story of the festival, how-to guides, Chanukah event finder, videos & songs, insights, stories, kids section and more...
The Kabbalah of the Dreidel
Are you having a Gimmel day? (It's been a while, eh?) Or perhaps a Shin moment? (That one doesn't requires any explanation...)
Are you having a Gimmel day? (It's been a while, eh?) Or perhaps a Shin moment? (That one doesn't requires any explanation...)
Why Couldn't the Jews and Greeks Just Get Along?
They could have learned so much from each other! Instead, the extremists hit the battlefield
They could have learned so much from each other! Instead, the extremists hit the battlefield
The Beginning of Western Civilization
A great debate about G‑d and man lies at the heart of the West. Athens and Jerusalem still are what they always were--the struggling twins of the western civilization
A great debate about G‑d and man lies at the heart of the West. Athens and Jerusalem still are what they always were--the struggling twins of the western civilization
The Spiritual Significance of the Number Eight
The greatly outnumbered Maccabees' resolve to battle the Greeks wasn't logical or natural. They drew on reservoirs of faith and courage that are not part of normative human nature...
The greatly outnumbered Maccabees' resolve to battle the Greeks wasn't logical or natural. They drew on reservoirs of faith and courage that are not part of normative human nature...
Illumination From Within
The windows in the Temple were narrow on the inside and wide on the outside, suggesting that their purpose was not to let light enter, but to illuminate the outside
The windows in the Temple were narrow on the inside and wide on the outside, suggesting that their purpose was not to let light enter, but to illuminate the outside
The Menorah Files
"In direct consequence to the overwhelming success of the Maccabee project, the administration of Heaven Inc. has decided to provide yet another wondrous manifestation of the truth behind the cosmos, a.k.a. a miracle. We are presently accepting proposals..."
"In direct consequence to the overwhelming success of the Maccabee project, the administration of Heaven Inc. has decided to provide yet another wondrous manifestation of the truth behind the cosmos, a.k.a. a miracle. We are presently accepting proposals..."
Jewish Stories
A Long Day for Morgenstern
Night was when a creature's true colors were revealed, they use the cover of darkness for their darkest deeds
Night was when a creature's true colors were revealed, they use the cover of darkness for their darkest deeds
Chanukah with Savta
"I could not feel worse than I already feel, Rebbetzin," Or explained. "When I spoke to her last, she was in the hospital..."
"I could not feel worse than I already feel, Rebbetzin," Or explained. "When I spoke to her last, she was in the hospital..."
A Chanukah Postcard
It was just a postcard with a simple message, but to me it was a wonderful Chanukah present
It was just a postcard with a simple message, but to me it was a wonderful Chanukah present
The Vanishing Flame
It didn't blow out, there was no smoke, it just was not there anymore. It was as if it just flew off...
It didn't blow out, there was no smoke, it just was not there anymore. It was as if it just flew off...
The Fifth Night
"It's Chanukah," cried Nachman, "the festival of miracles! We'll do the mitzvah the way it should be done. Not in some rusty can fished out from the garbage..."
"It's Chanukah," cried Nachman, "the festival of miracles! We'll do the mitzvah the way it should be done. Not in some rusty can fished out from the garbage..."
My Father's Maoz Tzur
My father's version is both melodic and mournful, complete with crashing crescendos and lilting liturgy. It is emotionally evocative of both the highs and lows in Jewish history...
My father's version is both melodic and mournful, complete with crashing crescendos and lilting liturgy. It is emotionally evocative of both the highs and lows in Jewish history...
Parshah
The “Good Morning” That Changed the World
At this point, Joseph could have withdrawn into himself, as many prisoners do, allowing thoughts of anger and victimization to consume him. He had every right to be a bitter man . . .
At this point, Joseph could have withdrawn into himself, as many prisoners do, allowing thoughts of anger and victimization to consume him. He had every right to be a bitter man . . .
The Parshah in a Nutshell - Vayeishev
Jacob makes a colored coat for his favorite son, Joseph. Joseph’s brothers are jealous; they sell him to travelling Ishmaelites, and tell Jacob he is dead. Joseph is taken to Egypt, works for Potiphar, and is thrown into jail, where he meets the baker and the butler and interprets their dreams.
Jacob makes a colored coat for his favorite son, Joseph. Joseph’s brothers are jealous; they sell him to travelling Ishmaelites, and tell Jacob he is dead. Joseph is taken to Egypt, works for Potiphar, and is thrown into jail, where he meets the baker and the butler and interprets their dreams.
The Jewish Work Ethic
Is there really such a thing as a "Jewish work ethic"? If yes, where did it originate? Who is the only man dubbed by the Bible "a successful man"?
Is there really such a thing as a "Jewish work ethic"? If yes, where did it originate? Who is the only man dubbed by the Bible "a successful man"?
The Parshah in a Nutshell - Mikeitz
Joseph is called upon to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, and he predicts seven upcoming years of famine. He advises Pharaoh to begin storing grain. His brothers travel to Egypt to buy food, and they do not recognize him. Joseph accuses them of being spies and thieves. Benjamin is threatened with staying behind as his slave.
Joseph is called upon to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, and he predicts seven upcoming years of famine. He advises Pharaoh to begin storing grain. His brothers travel to Egypt to buy food, and they do not recognize him. Joseph accuses them of being spies and thieves. Benjamin is threatened with staying behind as his slave.
Living
To Gift or Not To Gift
Chanukah has always posed a particular challenge for Jewish parents because it arrives around the same time as a certain secular holiday that is surrounded by an inordinate amount of music, lights and action...
Chanukah has always posed a particular challenge for Jewish parents because it arrives around the same time as a certain secular holiday that is surrounded by an inordinate amount of music, lights and action...
Swimming to the Shore
When I was young and living on the East Coast, near the Atlantic Ocean, I wanted to be a marine biologist. But then we moved to the Midwest. My dream ended before I even realized it had begun...
When I was young and living on the East Coast, near the Atlantic Ocean, I wanted to be a marine biologist. But then we moved to the Midwest. My dream ended before I even realized it had begun...
Internal Wars
Our negative self-evaluations and criticism of others can wreak havoc on our relationships and block our ability to experience love, joy and faith...
Our negative self-evaluations and criticism of others can wreak havoc on our relationships and block our ability to experience love, joy and faith...
Explaining Corruption to Children
What should we say to our little ones when they are exposed, for the first time, to immoral educators, abusive parents, religious corruption and the basic inconsistencies they witness...
What should we say to our little ones when they are exposed, for the first time, to immoral educators, abusive parents, religious corruption and the basic inconsistencies they witness...
Time For a Change of Scenery?
My life is at a standstill. I'm thinking of moving to a different city, or maybe changing my career...
My life is at a standstill. I'm thinking of moving to a different city, or maybe changing my career...
Baffled by the Book
The fact that so many theories exist shows that no one method has been proven to work for all parents and all children...
The fact that so many theories exist shows that no one method has been proven to work for all parents and all children...
Two Are Better Than One
When people first choose a marriage partner, they perceive differences with tolerance. However, once a couple lives together in marriage, those differences take on a new, less favorable, appearance...
When people first choose a marriage partner, they perceive differences with tolerance. However, once a couple lives together in marriage, those differences take on a new, less favorable, appearance...
The Jewish Woman
A Perfect Stranger
I’ve been thinking a lot about my anonymous donor lately because I fortunately just celebrated the two-year anniversary of my double-lung transplant. I find that I am now even more grateful to her, and curious about her...
I’ve been thinking a lot about my anonymous donor lately because I fortunately just celebrated the two-year anniversary of my double-lung transplant. I find that I am now even more grateful to her, and curious about her...
Got a Light?
Now that all the blockbuster holidays have passed, I feel like my soul is in a bathrobe and fuzzy slippers...
Now that all the blockbuster holidays have passed, I feel like my soul is in a bathrobe and fuzzy slippers...
Finding Light in the Dark
A young woman asked me this week why G‑d gave her an eating disorder. Her friends are enjoying the pleasures of youth,she struggles every moment for her health and sanity. She is young. She doesn't remember ever asking for this...
A young woman asked me this week why G‑d gave her an eating disorder. Her friends are enjoying the pleasures of youth,she struggles every moment for her health and sanity. She is young. She doesn't remember ever asking for this...
The Risk of Growing Up
The time of Chanukah is a time to listen for the signals for growth that are taking root beneath the surface of our lives. It is a time to gaze into the climbing flames and to believe that we, too, can climb...
The time of Chanukah is a time to listen for the signals for growth that are taking root beneath the surface of our lives. It is a time to gaze into the climbing flames and to believe that we, too, can climb...
Chanukah Recipes
Cook (and fry) up a traditional Hanukkah storm: latkes to applesauce, jelly doughnuts and more recipes for all tastes.
Cook (and fry) up a traditional Hanukkah storm: latkes to applesauce, jelly doughnuts and more recipes for all tastes.
Between coldness and heresy stands an extremely thin wall. For it is written: "G-d is a consuming fire"--G-dliness is a blazing flame.
— Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch
Print Magazine
It’s G-d’s world. Everything He gives is good, the sweetest good.
But it is often a good far too great for us to understand. We imagine it is not good, because that’s the only way to make sense of it with our small minds.
Yet the truth is, He gives us all the good we can handle. If we could take more, He would g...
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