Chanukah!
An oft-misunderstood, though commonly celebrated, holiday on the Jewish calendar.
I would like to offer a peek into Chanukah through the eyes of the Talmudic Sages. In the midst of Tractate Shabbos the Talmud diverts into a lengthy discussion of the specific mitzvoth of Chanukah as well as some historical background. A careful examination of this Talmudic discussion can offer us a deeper understanding of the holiday and its observance making it a more meaningful experience for all.
For each discussion in the Talmud I will offer a synopsis of the issues at hand, as well as the conclusion. Please bear in mind that we generally do not arrive at Halachic conclusions just from a simple reading of the Talmud and this is not intended to be a practical Halachic guide. For those matters please consult your rabbi.
Additionally, I will share with you some deeper insights from Chassidic and Kabbalistic sources as to the meaning and significance of the observance of Chanukah and how they relate to each Talmudic discussion.
While there are in print countless anthologies that offer many explanations of the meaning of Chanukah, I am hoping that this work will be different in two ways:
I hope you enjoy the ride along with me!
An oft-misunderstood, though commonly celebrated, holiday on the Jewish calendar.
I would like to offer a peek into Chanukah through the eyes of the Talmudic Sages. In the midst of Tractate Shabbos the Talmud diverts into a lengthy discussion of the specific mitzvoth of Chanukah as well as some historical background. A careful examination of this Talmudic discussion can offer us a deeper understanding of the holiday and its observance making it a more meaningful experience for all.
For each discussion in the Talmud I will offer a synopsis of the issues at hand, as well as the conclusion. Please bear in mind that we generally do not arrive at Halachic conclusions just from a simple reading of the Talmud and this is not intended to be a practical Halachic guide. For those matters please consult your rabbi.
Additionally, I will share with you some deeper insights from Chassidic and Kabbalistic sources as to the meaning and significance of the observance of Chanukah and how they relate to each Talmudic discussion.
While there are in print countless anthologies that offer many explanations of the meaning of Chanukah, I am hoping that this work will be different in two ways:
- By using theTalmud as the template for beginning the discussions it will offer somewhat different perspective
- I will endeavor where possible to offer explanations that are different than the standard fare that you will find in most sources, while hopefully bringing meaningful insight.
I hope you enjoy the ride along with me!
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