The presents and parties of Chanukah are
sweet, but hearing a few classes on the holiday can awaken the spirit
and light of the dancing flames in your hearts and in your homes.
All too often we realize that our dreams may
never come true, leaving in its wake a sad disappointment. Look how
Joseph's dreams of greatness and his enormous potential to realize them
were abruptly halted by being sold into slavery, and his subsequent
imprisonment. Can we understand how all the obstacles in Joseph's life,
and in our own lives are really intended to bring ones inner greatness
to fruition?
To get a better idea of who we are, let's
first take a look at who we aren't. In a colorful reflection of
contrasts, Rebbetzin Heller describes the basic worldviews of Greek and
Jewish cultures, and how this not only defines the responsibilities of a
Jew, but also their privilege in carrying forth ideals that their
grandparents lived and sacrificed for.
Rav Yaakov Weinberg describes some halachos
and understandings that arise on Chanukah from reading inside a page
gemara. He deals with the need for the Chanuka candles to burn, when to
light them, and the importance of pirsumei nisa.
Most have heard the basic Chanukah story
between the Greeks and Jews. However, there was a deeper civil war going
on at the same time between the 'old Jews' and the 'new enlightened
Hellenized Jews'. Hear the background and outcome of this intense and
tragic struggle for cultural supremacy.