What Does Chanukah Teach Us About Today’s War?

Applied Chassidus with Rabbi Simon Jacobson: What Does Chanukah Teach Us About Today’s War? What Does 19 Kislev and Chanukah Have In Common? Why Don’t We Study Torah on Nittel Eve? Video

December 22, 2024 – 21 Kislev 5785

Applied Chassidus with Rabbi Simon Jacobson: What Does Chanukah Teach Us About Today’s War? What Does 19 Kislev and Chanukah Have In Common? Why Don’t We Study Torah on Nittel Eve? Video

What Does Chanukah Teach Us About Today’s War? What Does 19 Kislev and Chanukah Have In Common? Why Don’t We Study Torah on Nittel Eve? How Can Refraining From Torah Study Have a Positive Impact? Why Aren’t We Obligated to Read Megilas Antiochus on Chanukah, as We Are About Reading Megilas Esther on Purim? Why Do We Mark This Holiday by Lighting Candles and Not by Commemorating the Victory in the War With Our Enemies? Is Giving Gifts on Chanukah and Displaying Blow-up Chanukah Decorations Appropriate?

MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 525, with Rabbi Simon Jacobson
Sunday, December 22, 2024 / 21 Kislev 5785 – 8:00-9:00PM ET

The topics in this week’s 525^th episode of the highly acclaimed MyLife: Chassidus Applied series, with Rabbi Simon Jacobson, will include:

What energy do we draw from these days between Yud Tes Kislev and Chanukah?

What do these holidays have in common?

Nittel

Why don’t we study Torah on nittel eve?
How can refraining from Torah study have a positive impact?
How can a negative turn into a positive?
Why is there a custom to play chess at this time?
What connection does it have with Chanukah?
Why aren’t we obligated to read Megilas Antiochus on Chanukah, as we are about reading Megilas Esther on Purim?
Why is it called Megilas Antiochus?

Chassidus Applied to Chanukah

How does Chassidus explain the lessons of Chanukah?
Why do we mark this holiday by lighting candles and not by commemorating the victory in the war with our enemies?
Since the Chanukah menorah represents the rededication of the Temple Menorah, why is it different in so many ways (eight instead of seven candles, kindled in the evening and not the morning, at the door facing outside, not inside the home, lit by every Jew not just the High Priest)?
What does the number eight represent? How does it differ from eleven?
What can we learn from Shammai’s opinion to begin lighting all eight candles on the first night?
Why did the High Priest light the Temple menorah?
Who are the seven shepherds and what is their connection to the seven branches of the menorah?
Do we add an eighth shepherd to correspond to the eight branches of the Chanukah menorah?
What is the connection between the eight days of this holiday and the eight days of Sukkos, with Zos Chanukah corresponding to Shemini Atzeres?
Why did the Rebbe wash and farbreng on Zos Chanukah 5738?
Is giving gifts on Chanukah and displaying blow-up Chanukah decorations appropriate?
Help me resolve a disagreement with my spouse: Can I give my children a Chanukah gift before the actual holiday?
Another disagreement: Is snow a blessing or a nuisance?

What does Chanukah teach us about today’s war?

What are the lessons from emphasizing the victory of light over darkness?
What is the connection with Syria?
Should we be praising G-d for the fall of Assad in Syria and other victories over our enemies?
Is this part of the geulah process?
Is there a prophecy that all our enemies will fall before the redemption?

MyLife: Chassidus Applied is a weekly video webcast candidly answering questions from the public about all life matters and challenges, covering the entire spectrum of human experience.

This hour-long dose of insights, broadcast live every Sunday night 8-9PM ET, is meant to provide people with inspired guidance and direction, empowering them to deal with any issue they may face.

In what has become a staple in so many people’s lives, MyLife: Chassidus Applied has provoked a significant reaction from the community, with thousands of people viewing each live broadcast and hundreds of questions pouring in week after week. At the root of every question and personal challenge tackled by the series is the overarching question: Does Judaism have the answers to my personal dilemmas?

MyLife demonstrates how Chassidus provides us with a comprehensive blueprint of the human psyche as a microcosm of the cosmos, and offers us all the guidance we need to live the healthiest possible life and build nurturing homes and families, bringing up the healthiest possible children, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. MyLife is brought to you by the Meaningful Life Center as a public service, free of charge.

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