Machshava:

Chanukah 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Chanuka

Description

Sfas Emes from 5644. Chanukah - days of praise and thanks. What happened on Chanukah to cause us to say Hallel, but not on Purim? The text of the brachah (blessing) we make when lighting the Chanukah candles. The Jewish people's task to acknowlege Hashem. Our Chanukah menorah reveals some of the remaining sparks of Hashem's Beis Hamikdash (holy temple). How it is possible, especially on Chanukah, for us lowly creatures to praise Hashem? What exactly did the Greeks object to so strenuously? The light of Chanukah that can descend into this world, every year, throughout all generations. The deeper meaning of the Shammai / Hillel machlokes (disagreement) - burning away the impurity vs increasing the light.