Dec. 25, 2024

Ignite a Miracle: The Spiritual Architecture of Chanukah and the Power of Family Unity

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Season 7

This episode explores the unique mitzvah of lighting candles during Hanukkah, emphasizing the unity and involvement of the entire family in this sacred act. We reflect on the historical context of the Maccabees and how their commitment to faith continues to inspire modern Jewish families.

• Explanation of the mitzvah of lighting candles 
• Importance of the household obligation to light at home 
• The role of family unity in practicing Hanukkah 
• Contributions of women in the mitzvah description 
• The historical significance of the Maccabees' bravery 
• Metaphor of building a fortress of light 
• Internalizing the central message of Hanukkah

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Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com



Transcript
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The mitzvah of lighting candles, the Hanukkah menorah, is a mitzvah unlike any other, not just because it's a Rabbonin-obligated mitzvah it's one of the few less than ten of them exist and not because the mitzvah of Hanukkah is described by Maimonides the Rambam as a mitzvah chaviva he adma od nearly no mitzvah, even those that are daraisa, get that explanation from the Rambam.

00:00:30.448 --> 00:01:07.406
But no, that's not why the mitzvah of lighting candles is so unique and so special, but rather it's unlike any other mitzvah, because every other mitzvah is an obligation on a person to do, for you to shake your lulah, for you to have children, or maybe sometimes there are unique mitzvahs that are on the chavitza, on the item, some item should be done, or a time period that becomes holy, like Shabbos that you're to protect.

00:01:07.406 --> 00:01:22.593
But Hanukkah is like no other because the installation of the mitzvah is described by Chazal as that you are to have a candle lit in your home.

00:01:22.593 --> 00:01:25.453
It's an obligation on the household, on the Jewish residents, to have a candle lit in your home.

00:01:25.453 --> 00:01:29.308
It's an obligation on the household, on the Jewish residents, to have a candle lit.

00:01:29.308 --> 00:01:40.540
It's not for the man to light it, for the woman, who also was involved in the miracle, for her to join in the Gavra type of din, that she also should join him in uniting to create the mitzvah?

00:01:40.540 --> 00:01:55.394
No, but that the house, the brick, the mortar, the structure, the different rooms and the windows they should have in their quarters, in this Bayis Nemem B'Yisrael, a Hanukkah menorah of Ner Ish Ubeisah.

00:01:55.394 --> 00:02:04.668
Because, ladies and gentlemen, do not overlook the message that's dripping here from Chazal.

00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:19.192
Hanukkah is about celebrating that one family stood up for God, and one family is all that it takes to stand up for God and bring a salvation, a miracle.

00:02:19.192 --> 00:02:30.620
It was literally a Zeda, a Rosh Hashiva, a Matis Yo and a bunch of sons, the 12 angry men on the jury.

00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:35.221
It takes a family, but that's it.

00:02:35.221 --> 00:02:35.921
It just takes one family.

00:02:35.921 --> 00:02:44.914
You put it all together, especially the job of a Eshishayel, or Debbishu as the Amor called his wife.

00:02:44.914 --> 00:03:00.530
She is the house to protect the house and board up the windows from any sort of infectious disease that may come in, for the husband to lead the way and for the children to also play the part, to build Ner Ishu Beso.

00:03:01.661 --> 00:03:02.786
That's what Hanukkah is about.

00:03:02.786 --> 00:03:09.603
Build your fortress, build your residence, build your Beisot.

00:03:09.603 --> 00:03:11.288
That it's Ne'eman be Yisrael.

00:03:11.288 --> 00:03:13.366
That's the message of Hanukkah.

00:03:13.366 --> 00:03:19.413
Be like the great family that stood up for God no matter what anyone else was doing.

00:03:19.413 --> 00:03:23.090
Lead your family like the Maccabees.

00:03:23.090 --> 00:03:49.175
Lead your family like the Maccabees and fulfill the mitzvah and internalize the message that Chazal installed for us to take home that, near Esh Ubeso, it just takes one Jewish family to dedicate themselves to Hashem to bring the miraculous salvation you.