The SpiriT of candleS

Rabbi Yoseph Y. Zaltzman

QI notice that lighting candles is a big part of Judaism. We light candles every Friday for Shabbat, we light candles on every festival, there is a tradition of lighting candles at a wedding, and Chanukah is all about candles. What is the connection between candles and spirituality? Are the candles just there to add ambiance, or is there a deeper reason as well?

Light is a central cornerstone of existence. “Let there be light” was among the first utterances of Creation, because that is in a sense the mission statement for life. In human terms, light is almost always used as a metaphor for goodness – the light at the end of the tunnel, lighting up someone’s life. A candle, specifically, represents the physical-spiritual dichotomy of existence; the wick represents the physical, the body, while the flame represents the spiritual, the soul.

There is something about a candle that makes it more spiritual than physical. A physical substance, when spread, becomes thin. Spirituality, when spread, expands and grows.

When you use something physical, it is diminished. The more money you spend, the less you have; the more gasoline you use, the more empty your tank becomes; the more food you eat, the more you need to restock your pantry. But spiritual things increase with use. If I use my wisdom to teach, the student learns, and I come out wiser for it; if I share my love with another, I become more loving, not less. When you give a spiritual gift, the recipient gains, and you lose nothing.

This is the spiritual property that candles share. When you use one candle to light another, the original candle remains bright. Its light is not diminished by being shared; on the contrary, the two candles together enhance each other’s brightness and increase light.

We sometimes worry that we may stretch ourselves too thin. In matters of spirit, this is never the case. The more goodness we spread, the more goodness we have. By making a new friend, you become a better friend to your old friends. By having another child, you open a new corridor of love in your heart that your other children benefit from, too. By teaching more students, you become wiser.

So there is indeed a deeper significance to the candles. Let’s look at the wedding custom you mentioned, because it sheds some light on the matter (pun intended). The prevalent custom is for the bride and groom to each be escorted with two candles, one on each side, which are usually held by their parents or whoever is escorting them to the chuppah (wedding canopy). The numerical value of the Hebrew word for “candle” (ner) is 250. According to the Talmud, a man has 248 limbs and a woman has 252. Together, they have 500. Thus, the two candles (250+250=500) symbolize the union of husband and wife. In a similar vein, the numerical value of G-d’s directive to Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply” (peru u’revu), is 500, the same numerical value as two candles. So yes, the candles are beautiful. But what they symbolize is even more exquisite: the unification of two souls, and the blessings of joy, happiness and family, and the transcendence of spirit over matter and the spiritual illuminating the physical. This is one of the more spiritual reasons why we light candles on Shabbat and festivals.

Once a year, we celebrate this truth for eight days and nights, celebrating the power of light. There are 36 candles in total lit over the course of the Chanukah holiday, corresponding to the 36 tractates of the Talmud, since the oral Torah was the primary focus of the Greek war against Jewish heritage. They knew there was no way to erase the written Torah, since it was ingrained in the form of thousands of Torah scrolls. So they focused their attack on the oral Torah. We kindle the Chanukah menorah, recalling that miraculous victory of quality over quantity, spirit over materialism, right over might. And pray for the day when such victories are no longer "miracles", but the way things are in this world. EM

Rabbi Yoseph Y. Zaltzman is the Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario. You can Ask the Rabbi at jrcc.org or fax to 416.222.7812. To meet with Rabbi Zaltzman in person, feel free to call 416.222.7105 to book an appointment. Appointments are generally available on Wednesday evenings after 7pm. Rebbitzin Chiena Zaltzman is also available for private consultations by appointment on Wednesday evenings from 9 to 10pm by calling 416.222.7105.

Кислев – месяц, когда произошли Ханукальные чудеса, - время чудес. Тради-ционно для нашего журнала в этот период говорить о чудесах. Рабби, поделитесь, пожалуйста, историями о чудесах Ребе.

Таких историй очень много. Раввин района Бруклина Canarsie окрыл новую любавичскую синагогу. У них еще не было своего Свитка Торы, и раввин каждый раз одалживал его (когда на неделю, кагда на несколько месяцев) в других синагогах. И вот, сидя на фарбренгене в своей новой синагоге, члены общины решили, что уже пора приобрести собственный Свиток Торы. Женщина по фамилии Борухов вдруг встала и сказала: «С Б-жьей помощью, я обеспечу Тору для нашей синагоги!» Приходит она домой и говорит мужу: «Я обещала синагоге Тору, но где мы достанем деньги для этого?»... Дело в том, что купить или написать новую Тору – очень дорогое дело, несколько десятков тысяч долларов, а семья такими возможностями не обладала. И женщина произнесла: «Если есть проблема, надо идти к Ребе». В воскресенье она приходит в «Севен Севенти», когда Ребе раздает людям доллары. За долларом от Ребе выстраивается длинная очередь. Когда миссис Борухов подходит к Ребе, она говорит: «Я обещала достать для нашей синагоги Тору и прошу Ребе дать для этого благословение». В ответ Ребе протягивает ей доллар и говорит: «Дай его для цедаки в Лос-Анджелесе».

The article above is excerpted from the Russian edition of Exodus Magazine. To subscribe, please visit exodusmagazine.org or call 416.222.7105.

An International Gathering

JRCC rabbis were among those participating in the annual Kinus HaShluchim, the international conference of Chabad emissaries from around the world. After spending Shabbat at the Rebbe’s shul at 770 Eastern Parkway (Lubavitch World Headquarters) over 5,000 Chabad rabbis and their guests joined the gala banquet on Sunday evening November 20. The banquet was an evening of inspiration celebrating the flourishing of Jewish life around the world, with many uplifting and miraculous stories shared, and included speeches, feature videos, music and dancing.

In November, the JRCC branches in West Thornhill, East Thornhill, Concord and Rockford each hosted a Friday night Community ShabbatDinner. The evenings, which were open to anyone, brought together dozens of regular community participants as well as many new faces. The festive Shabbat dinners – filled with great food, good company, a friendly atmosphere, and of course the wonderful, uplifting tranquility of Shabbat – were a great opportunity for families and people of all ages to spend time with friends, get to know new people, and connect with their community.

The JRCC East Thornhill Women’s Circle hosted an entertaining and engaging “Create Your Own Marvelous Mezuzah Cases” workshop last month. In addition to creating their own artistic mezuzah cases to beautify this special mitzvah and decorate their homes, participants were treated to a buffet of hearty soups and the opportunity to socialize with old and new friends – both of which helped warm the hearts on a cold autumn evening. Find out about upcoming women’s events at JrccEastThornhill.org/WomensCircle.

The JRCC East Thornhill’s Rosh Chodesh Society hosted the second session of its fascinating “Art & Soul” course. The course, led by Rebbitzin Chanie Zaltzman, examines the meaning of art in our lives. But art is not only for artists. It’s for anyone who craves to know how to live more creatively, more deeply. The recent session focused on music, “The Pen of the Soul,” exploring how music communicates ideas that cannot be put into words, and evokes feelings that defy description. Unlocking the secret of music enables us to access that well of transcendent wisdom we each possess in our souls. The seven-part journey continues. as we explore Judaism’s insights into the arts and how they beautify and transform our lives, one brushstroke at a time. For more info and registration visit JrccEastThornhill.org/RCS.

A Gathering Of Spirits

In ancient Israel, Hakhel was a gathering that took place every seven years in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Every Jew—man, woman and child—was expected to be present, and the king would read to them from the Torah. Nowadays, the essence of this mitzvah, gathering together with fellow Jews for Torah study and inspiration, is something each and every one of us can do. In order to participate in this spirit of Hakhel and lead by example, the JRCC rabbis and rebbitzins got together for a Saturday evening post-Shabbat “Melaveh Malka” gathering. They were joined by guest speaker Rabbi Zalman Leib Markowitz, a renowned educator and unique thinker, who shared thought-provoking insights and spearheaded a lively discussion. For more information and updates about special Hakhel programs and events, visit jrcc.org/hakhel.

What an educational trip the Bat Mitzvah Club had to the JRCC Furniture Depot!

The girls had a chance to see and participate in the Chessed programs the JRCC offers. They saw in real-time the effect we have when we give and help our friends, family, communities.

We are fascinated by artists. Their work embodies what we want our lives to be: beautiful, meaningful, purposeful. But art is not only for artists. It’s for anyone who craves to know how to live more creatively, more deeply.

Join us on a seven-part journey as we explore Judaism’s insights into the arts and how they beautify and transform our lives, one brushstroke at a time...

Lesson Three - Literature The Art of Storytelling

The ancient philosophers referred to the human race as “The Speaker.” From the moment we are born, we are telling a story--to ourselves and to others--the story that becomes the reality of our lives. Learn the secret of how words become a narrative, and you will hold in your hands the key to a cohesive and purposeful life.