ASK THE RABBI
25 NOVEMBER 2021
JUDAISM 51
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Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com HOW MANY MENORAHS?
Dear Rabbi Is it permissible to light some extra menorahs on Chanukah? I have some extra menorahs for guests. On occasion, the guests bring their own menorahs. So after we have all finished with the brachot, and the lighting, and singing, I light the extra menorahs. No brachot, of course. Is there any reason why I should not do this? Jake Dear Jake Is there any reason why you should do this? I’m not sure why you don’t have the guests each light their own and recite the blessings along with you? Lighting the extra menorahs is no big deal as such, and like all public menorahs, helps to spread the message of the miracle, but not when they are all contained within the same room as the main one, for all the same people to see.
IS IT IDEAL TO CONVERT?
Dear Rabbi What are some ideal reasons for someone to convert to Judaism? Sandra Dear Sandra There are no ideal reasons to convert to Judaism whatsoever. Frankly, unless your soul impels you do so, you’d have to be a little of kilter to want to assume all those obligations. But there are a number of ideal reasons to find happiness and fulfilment in who you are and what you are. Start with the fact that there was no one ever like you before in this world, and there will never be anyone like you. Otherwise,
you would be superfluous to existence and would never have come into being. So go out there, seek your purpose in humanity, exploit every opportunity as it presents itself and make your mark in your slice of the world.
IS GIFT GIVING JEWISH?
Dear Rabbi Is there are real significance in giving gifts to our kids on Chanukah? I think the whole ritual is over-inflated and to my mind, is just copying other people who are big on giving gifts at this time of year. It’s not that I can’t afford it. It’s that I don’t agree with it. Yakov Dear Yakov I get asked this question often enough. Let me give you some perspective. One of the famous rituals associated with Chanukah is that of gift giving. To be sure, the original tradition was that of giving Chanukah “gelt” or money. The exact origin of this custom is uncertain, but it is still practiced and certainly cherished, particularly by the recipients. The significance of this custom relates to the fact that the real battle of Chanukah was a cultural one. The Greeks sought to assimilate us and inculcate us with Greek culture and philosophy. They sought to enforce Hellenism at the expense of Jewish ideals and education. Those that were most under threat were the Jewish children. It was they, more than any other, whom the Greeks wanted to influence with all sorts of alien ideas. Hence they banned all means of Jewish education. A little known fact is that in
Pirkei Avot
– “however much we are watching our children to see what they are doing with their lives – make no mistake about it – they are watching us to see what we are doing with ours!” Two sisters were spending their Chanukah weekend at their Grandparents. At bedtime, they’re lying on their beds reciting their bedtime prayers. Suddenly the littler sister starts to pray at the top of her lungs: “I pray for a new Barbie Doll House,” “I pray for a new Nintendo, I pray for a new iPhone.” The older sister looks to her: “Why are you shouting like that? G-d isn’t deaf you know!” “I know,”
ten people sit together and occupy themselves with Torah, the Shechinah abides among them, as it is said: “Hashem stands in the congregation of G-d” (Psalm 82:1). How do we know that the same is true even of five? As it is said: “This band of His He has established on earth” (Amos 9:6). How do we know that the same is true even of three? As it is said: “In the midst of the judges He judges” (Psalm 82:1) How do we know that the same is true even of two? As it is said: “Then they that fear the Lord spoke one with another, and the L-rd hearkened, and heard” (Malachi 3:16). How do we know that the same is true even of one? As it is said: “In
she replies, “but Grandma’ is!” Everyone has their own idea of what they want for their kids in life but in our perpetual search and yearning for nachas – that Jewish word with no appropriate English translation – we must not go deaf to the calling of our 21st century and that is to ensure that children receive a sound Jewish education which will fortify them to find their own inner strength such that they will be able to navigate the challenges of life and grow to be real sources of pride and beacons of light, as productive and proud Jews out in the world.
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For Refuah Shalema for Mordechai Ben Chaya Sara
,אֹומר ֵ ּדֹוסא ִאיׁש ְּכ ַפר ֲחנַ נְ יָ ה ָ ַר ִּבי ֲחלַ ְפ ָּתא ֶבן ְׁש ִכינָ ה ְׁשרּויָ ה,ּתֹורה ָ עֹוס ִקין ַּב ְ ּיֹוׁש ִבין ְו ְ ֲע ָׂש ָרה ֶׁש ֹלקים נִ ָּצב ִ ֶׁשּנֶ ֱא ַמר (תהלים פב) ֱא,יהם ֶ ֵֵבינ ֶׁשּנֶ ֱא ַמר (עמוס,ּומּנַ יִ ן ֲא ִפּלּו ֲח ִמ ָּׁשה ִ .ַּב ֲע ַדת ֵאל ,לׁשה ָ ּומּנַ יִ ן ֲא ִפּלּו ְׁש ִ .ט) ַו ֲאגֻ ָּדתֹו ַעל ֶא ֶרץ יְ ָס ָדּה ּומּנַ יִ ן...ים ִ ֹלק ִ ֶׁשּנֶ ֱא ַמר (תהלים פב) ְּב ֶק ֶרב ֱא ֶׁשּנֶ ֱא ַמר (מלאכי ג) ָאז נִ ְד ְּברּו יִ ְר ֵאי,ֲא ִפּלּו ְׁשנַ יִ ם ּומּנַ יִ ן ִ .'ה' ִאיׁש ֶאל ֵר ֵעהּו ַוּי ְַק ֵׁשב ה' ַוּיִ ְׁש ָמע ְוגֹו ֶׁשּנֶ ֱא ַמר (שמות כ) ְּב ָכל ַה ָּמקֹום,ֲא ִפּלּו ֶא ָחד :…ֲא ֶׁשר ַאזְ ִּכיר ֶאת ְׁש ִמי ָאבֹא Rabbi Halafta of Kefar Hanania said: when
response to this threat, following the victory of the Maccabees, Rabbi Yeshoshua Ben Gamla established a national network of Jewish studies and set into motion a Jewish educational system which we benefit from till present day. Indeed, Chanukah contains the root word Chinuch which means education. We look to encourage our kids today to study their ancient traditions and incentivise them with Chanukah money, or, as a substitute for Chanukah money we give them gifts. Maimonides discusses the importance of using incentives and prizes until a child is old enough to understand the importance and beauty of Jewish values and rituals and that’s what we do. Indeed, just as Chanukah is the festival of lights – each beautiful child represents a ray light in the way that they bring illumination into our homes and literally light up our lives. A flame flickers, sometimes wanes when exposed to the elements of the outside world, but with each passing day of Chanukah we add yet another candle demonstrating the necessity to never complacent and our need to always seek to increase the education and knowledge of our children stimulating them with the rich spiritual splendour that Judaism has to offer. And let us remember that the Chanukah lights are kindled by the Shamash – the central candle. We, as parents, are that Shamash. We are the central candle responsible for kindling the flames – and we do so by way of our own example, because - always remember this
Perek 3: Mishna 6
every place where I cause my name to be mentioned I will come unto you and bless…” This Mishanah has always held great comfort to me. Rabbi Channina ben Dosa shows us through various pesukim how Hashem loves the Jewish nation so much, that He will always be with them, whether they learn Torah with a minyan or even on their own. Of course, it is better to learn amongst many, whether in a shiur setting, Yeshiva or Kollel. However, on one’s own is still great, if one has the proper training. Reb Elyashiv became Reb Elyashiv spending many years learning by himself in shul!
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