Ep. 475: How Does Chanukah Provide Us With Strength and Direction in These Trying Times?

12/15/23 • 65 min

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
How Chanukah provides us with strength and direction these trying times

What lessons do the lights of Chanukah offer us?
Why do we celebrate the war victory with lighting candles?
What do we learn from the length of time which the Chanukah lights must burn – “until the feet of the Tarmudoi have ceased”?
Is there a connection between the dreidel and Moshiach?
Who was Antiochus and why did he have a problem with the Jews doing Torah and Mitzvos?
What is the spiritual difference between Shammai and Hillel’s opinion on how we light the Chanukah candles?
Why don't we light two separate menorahs to cover Shammai and Hillel’s opinions?
Can we glean different military strategies from their opinions?
If Zos Chanukah is the true essence of Chanukah being the brightest day, how do we reconcile that with Beis Shammai’s opinion that we light only one candle on that day?
Do our Biblical enemies, like Antiochus and Amelek, actually manifest today or are they more symbolic?
How does the story of Joseph help us understand today’s events?
How can we counter all the confusion today?
What can we do to deprogram and re-educate Muslim/Arab civilians?
Can we trust the enemy?
Do the prophets foretell current events?
Should we be studying these prophecies?
Which ones most vividly describe today’s events?
Was it in a form of prophecy, or were they wise men who could discern patterns and predict the future?
Can we apply the prophesies in the Book of Daniel to our times?
Is there anywhere in the Torah that says this war will be called operation iron swords?
Can this war lead us directly to Moshiach?
Is it possible that G-d will not allow Moshiach in our generation because we are involved in a war?
If Moshiach comes today, will we still have murderous enemies? Will Hamas be brought to justice?
Will Moshiach have supernatural powers to destroy our enemies?
How do I respond to people who claim that Israel occupied Palestinian land?
In addition to Rashi on the first verse in the Torah that G-d gave the Jewish people the land of Israel, why don’t we also cite Rashi later that speaks about how Noach and Abraham apportioned the land to their children?
Does the Torah document Abraham purchasing land in Israel to pre-empt others claim to the land?

Empowering Torah Portions Dealing with the enemy Can you share details about your meeting with the Argentinian president?
How Does the Story End?
Who owns the Land of Israel? Conclusion: What is the message of the enduring flames of Chanukah?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
How Chanukah provides us with strength and direction these trying times

What lessons do the lights of Chanukah offer us?
Why do we celebrate the war victory with lighting candles?
What do we learn from the length of time which the Chanukah lights must burn – “until the feet of the Tarmudoi have ceased”?
Is there a connection between the dreidel and Moshiach?
Who was Antiochus and why did he have a problem with the Jews doing Torah and Mitzvos?
What is the spiritual difference between Shammai and Hillel’s opinion on how we light the Chanukah candles?
Why don't we light two separate menorahs to cover Shammai and Hillel’s opinions?
Can we glean different military strategies from their opinions?
If Zos Chanukah is the true essence of Chanukah being the brightest day, how do we reconcile that with Beis Shammai’s opinion that we light only one candle on that day?
Do our Biblical enemies, like Antiochus and Amelek, actually manifest today or are they more symbolic?
How does the story of Joseph help us understand today’s events?
How can we counter all the confusion today?
What can we do to deprogram and re-educate Muslim/Arab civilians?
Can we trust the enemy?
Do the prophets foretell current events?
Should we be studying these prophecies?
Which ones most vividly describe today’s events?
Was it in a form of prophecy, or were they wise men who could discern patterns and predict the future?
Can we apply the prophesies in the Book of Daniel to our times?
Is there anywhere in the Torah that says this war will be called operation iron swords?
Can this war lead us directly to Moshiach?
Is it possible that G-d will not allow Moshiach in our generation because we are involved in a war?
If Moshiach comes today, will we still have murderous enemies? Will Hamas be brought to justice?
Will Moshiach have supernatural powers to destroy our enemies?
How do I respond to people who claim that Israel occupied Palestinian land?
In addition to Rashi on the first verse in the Torah that G-d gave the Jewish people the land of Israel, why don’t we also cite Rashi later that speaks about how Noach and Abraham apportioned the land to their children?
Does the Torah document Abraham purchasing land in Israel to pre-empt others claim to the land?

Previous Episode

Ep. 474: How Yud Tes Kislev and Chanukah Provide Us With Strength and Direction in These Trying Times

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
How Yud Tes Kislev provides us with strength and direction in these trying times

What lessons do we take from Yud Tes Kislev for today’s war
What is the significance of the Alter Rebbe saying Padah B’shalom Nafshi when he was notified of his release?
What can we derive from the Tanya we learn these days?
How can we improve our prayers based on the last section in Tanya?
What message do we learn from Tanya’s cover page?
What lessons do the lights of Chanukah offer us?
What is the spiritual difference between the wick, the oil and the lame they produce?
Can G-d make miracles as he has done in past wars or does He want us to do the fighting ourselves?
Is the current war closer to what happened on Chanukah or Purim?
Are the turncoat Jewish women marching with Hamas supporters a reincarnation of Miriam bas Bilgah?
Who is today’s Yehudis?
Is there a connection between Chassidus and the oil we use to light the menorah?
Is there a connection in all this to Moshiach?
Should freeing the hostages and winning the war take precedent over doing all we can to bring Moshiach?
How does the Torah story of Joseph and his brothers help us understand today’s events?
What can we learn from the fact that they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites?
How does separating Challa help in times like this?
Would it be appropriate to pray for more children to compensate for those tragically taken from us?
Did the visit to the Ohel by the families of the hostages help free them?

How Chanukah provides us with strength and direction in these trying times Empowering Torah Portions Actions

What lessons do the lights of Chanukah offer us?
What is the spiritual difference between the wick, the oil and the lame they produce?
Can G-d make miracles as he has done in past wars or does He want us to do the fighting ourselves?
Is the current war closer to what happened on Chanukah or Purim?
Are the turncoat Jewish women marching with Hamas supporters a reincarnation of Miriam bas Bilgah?
Who is today’s Yehudis?
Is there a connection between Chassidus and the oil we use to light the menorah?
Is there a connection in all this to Moshiach?
Should freeing the hostages and winning the war take precedent over doing all we can to bring Moshiach?
How does the Torah story of Joseph and his brothers help us understand today’s events?
What can we learn from the fact that they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites?
How does separating Challa help in times like this?
Would it be appropriate to pray for more children to compensate for those tragically taken from us?
Did the visit to the Ohel by the families of the hostages help free them?

Empowering Torah Portions Actions

How does the Torah story of Joseph and his brothers help us understand today’s events?
What can we learn from the fact that they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites?

Actions

How does separating Challa help in times like this?
Would it be appropriate to pray for more children to compensate for those tragically taken from us?
Did the visit to the Ohel by the families of the hostages help free them?

Next Episode

Ep. 476: What Can We Learn From Hei Teves About Today’s War?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
What can we learn from Hei Teves about today’s war

Where does the expression “didan notzach” come from?
What does this day signify?
Why don’t we continue growing in holiness and light more candles after Chanukah?
How does the reconciliation of Joseph and his brothers help us understand and navigate today’s events?
What can we learn from Joseph revealing himself to his brothers and from his reassuring them that G-d brought me to Egypt to save lives?
What are some lessons from Joseph’s trials and tribulations?
Why are our actions not achieving the desired results of ending this nightmare once and for all?
What else can we do?
Should we transform the enemy’s expressions into positive messages?
Should we be organizing large public tehillim gatherings? Make more farbrengens? More activities with children? Special prayers from brides and grooms?
My heart is broken over the hostages that were accidentally killed. What else does Hashem want from us?
How should I explain to my children why our tzedakah on Chanukah did not resolve the war?
When there is more negative energy, does that indicate that there is also more positive energy?
How do we know we are closer to Moshiach
Why don’t the Muslims/Arabs and so many others accept the explicit and undeniable words in the Torah that G-d gave the Promised Land to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children – the Jewish people?
Did Jews occupy the land of the Canaanites?
Is it correct to point out to American critics their hypocrisy considering their displacing the native Indians in this country?
How do we address the testimony of the presidents of major universities before Congress?
What’s the best way to communicate with those siding with our enemies?
Why is there such a double standard when it comes to Israel?

Does Chanukah continue to provide us with strength and guidance? Empowering Torah Portions Actions Is this a special time? Who owns the Land of Israel? How should we react to antisemitism on campuses and in academia?

How do we address the testimony of the presidents of major universities before Congress?
What’s the best way to communicate with those siding with our enemies?
Why is there such a double standard when it comes to Israel?