Chanuka & Rosh Chodesh

30 Kislev 5770
(Rosh Chodesh – 6^th Day of Chanukah, at night we light 7 candles)

Besides Chanukah, today we also celebrate Rosh Chodesh Tebet.

The month of Tebet is the tenth Hebrew month counting from Nisan. The name Tebet was coined in Babylonia, as is the case with the names of the other Hebrew months.

Rosh Chodesh Tebet is sometimes observed as one day and sometimes –for example, this year- as two days because Kislev, the preceding month, is sometimes "full" (consisting of 30 days) and sometimes not (consisting of only 29 days).

The first day of Rosh Chodesh is the 30^th day of the preceding month, and the second day is the 1^st day of the new month. The month of Tevet itself always consists of precisely 29 days; because of this lack of variation in the length of Tevet, Rosh Chodesh of Shevat, the month which follows, always consists of only one day, namely, the 1^st of Shevat (from OU.org).

Today and tomorrow morning we say in the Amida (Lachash) Yaale veYabo and al haNisism and we read the full Halel. Then we take out two Sifre Torah . On the first one we read the Rosh Chodesh portion, but instead of dividing it into 4 parts (4 Alliot) as we do every Rosh Chodesh, we divide the reading into 3 Alliot. In the second Sefer Torah we read the part corresponding to the 6^th day of Chanukah. Tomorrow we will do the same thing except that in the second Sefer Torah we will read the text for the 7^th day of Chanukah.

Recommended link: A contemporary Chanukah: http://www.aish.com/h/c/s/70134357.html

Chanuka candles: when , where, how?

Wednesday Dec 16, 09 – 29 Kislev 5770
(5^th Day of Chanukah, at night we light 6 candles)

1. Technically speaking, it is enough to light one single candle every night. As we say in the Berakha: lehadlik NER Chanukah (to light the candle, not candles, of Chanukah). As we all know, today our custom is to add one more candle for each night. However, in extreme cases where you cannot light all the candles, for example, if one is on a trip or in a Hotel room, etc., lighting one candle any night will be enough.

2. The candles could be made of wax, paraffin, regular oil, etc., but ideally one should use olive oil, because the miracle we are celebrating was about olive oil. Another advantage of olive oil is that normally the oil candles will last for more time, while some small wax candles will last less than the required time (half hour).

3. In the past, people used to place the Chanukkiah outside the door, on opposite side to the Mezuzah, which technically speaking is the best place for it (some families still do it!). But nowadays, the Chanukkiah is normally lit inside the house, close to a window, in a way that could be visible from outside.

Recommended link to visit - On the prayer Al haNisim: http://www.ou.org/chagim/articles/alhanisim.htm

Electrical Chanukkiah

28th of Kislev, 5770

The Mitzva of Chanukah cannot be performed with electrical candles, even when real candles are not available. An electrical Hanukkiah, however, can be used in addition to the regular Hanukkiah especially during day time.

A few days ago, on Perashat VAYISHLACH, I explained why we are called AM ISRAEL. We read then that Yaakov fought with an angel and the angel blessed him and Yaakov's name was changed to Israel. Israel is the alternative name of Yaakov. But is that fair that we ?the Jewish people- are named exclusively after Yaakov? Why aren?t we called the people of Abraham, the founder of the Jewish people? How about Itzchack? The middle generation is always the most challenging! Wait a minute: a person?s Jewish status goes after the mother. Whatever religion the mother is, that is also the child?s. So why aren?t we called the people of Sarah or Rivkah or Rachel or Lea? Why are we named AM ISRAEL exclusively after Yaakov? Take a closer look at the spelling of the word ?Israel? and you will magically find the names of our three patriarchs and our four matriarchs: ?Yod? for Itzchack and Yaakov, ?Shin? for Sarah. ?Resh? for Rivkah and Rachel. ?Alef? for Abraham and ?Lamed? for Lea. They are all there?. Isn?t it beautiful? Isn?t Israel the perfect name for us?


Recommended link on electrical Chanukkiah:
http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/717564