Jewish Outreach in Those Days and in Our Times
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Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • YU Center for the Jewish Future THE BENJAMIN AND ROSE BERGER TORAH TO-GO® Established by Rabbi Hyman and Ann Arbesfeld • December 2019 • Kislev 5780 בימים ההם בזמן הזה Jewish Outreach in those Days and in our times Dedicated by Dr. David and Barbara Hurwitz in honor of their children and grandchildren We thank the following synagogues which have pledged to be Pillars of the Torah To-Go® project Beth David Synagogue Cong. Ohr HaTorah Young Israel of West Hartford, CT Atlanta, GA Lawrence-Cedarhurst Cedarhurst, NY Beth Jacob Congregation Cong. Shaarei Tefillah Beverly Hills, CA Newton Centre, MA Young Israel of New Hyde Park Beth Jacob Congregation Green Road Synagogue New Hyde Park, NY Oakland, CA Beachwood, OH Young Israel of Bnai Israel – Ohev Zedek The Jewish Center Philadelphia, PA New York, NY New Rochelle New Rochelle, NY Boca Raton Synagogue Jewish Center of Young Israel of Boca Raton, FL Brighton Beach Brooklyn, NY Scarsdale Cong. Ahavas Achim Scarsdale, NY Highland Park, NJ Koenig Family Young Israel of Foundation Cong. Ahavath Torah Brooklyn, NY West Hartford Englewood, NJ West Hartford, CT Yeshivat Reishit Cong. Beth Sholom Beit Shemesh/Jerusalem Young Israel of Lawrence, NY Israel West Hempstead Cong. Beth Sholom West Hempstead, NY Young Israel of Providence, RI Century City Young Israel of Cong. Bnai Yeshurun Los Angeles, CA Woodmere Teaneck, NJ Woodmere, NY Young Israel of Cong. Ohab Zedek Hollywood Ft Lauderdale New York, NY Hollywood, FL Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President, Yeshiva University Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, David Mitzner Dean, Center for the Jewish Future Rabbi Menachem Penner, Max and Marion Grill Dean, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Rabbi Robert Shur, Series Editor Rabbi Joshua Flug, General Editor Rabbi Michael Dubitsky, Content Editor Andrea Kahn, Copy Editor Copyright © 2019 All rights reserved by Yeshiva University Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future 500 West 185th Street, Suite 419, New York, NY 10033 • [email protected] • 212.960.0074 This publication contains words of Torah. Please treat it with appropriate respect. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rabbi Robert Shur at [email protected] 2 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Chanukah 5780 Table of Contents Chanukah 5780 Dedicated by Dr. David and Barbara Hurwitz in honor of their children and grandchildren 4 Rabbi Yaakov Glasser: Bringing the Menorah Outside Introduction Insights into 6 Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz: The Happily Homeless on Chanukah Chanukah 8 Mrs. Sivan Rahav-Meir: An Israeli Journalist’s Perspective on Chanukah 9 Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger: Chanukah and the Miracle of Jewish Continuity 11 Eight Perspectives On Chanukah: Rabbi Ely Bacon, Rabbi Menachem Genack, Rebbetzin Marjorie Glatt, JD, Rabbi Joshua Goller, Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky, Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Weinberg, Mrs. Miriam White and Rabbi Yehuda Willig Outreach as a Value 16 Rabbi Mordechai Becher: Shabbos Invitations: Inspiration to Observe or in Halacha and Incitement to Sin? Jewish Thought 26 Rabbi Benjamin Yudin: Kiruv Rechokim: Not Just for Professionals 29 A Conversation on Kiruv: Rabbi Micah Greenland, Rabbi Dovid Rosman, Mrs. Shoshana Schechter and Rabbi Mark Wildes This issue is sponsored in memory of Elaine Bienenfeld Silver z”l By her children Evelyn and Larry Kraut, Ruthie Cohen, and Sharon and Morris Silver And grandchildren Shlomo Cohen, Chani (z”l) and Guy Nussbaum, Avi Cohen, Sheri and Eli Brazil, Terri and Yitzi Karasick, Jennifer and Benjamin Hooper, Michelle and Steven Farbman, Dalia and Evan Silver, and Alison Silver and great grandchildren 3 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Chanukah 5780 Introduction Rabbi Yaakov Glasser David Mitzner Dean, Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future Rabbi, Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton BRINGING THE MENORAH OUTSIDE question is answered by the Rambam שכשראה אהרן חנוכת הנשיאים, חלשה hen Aharon HaKohen :(Bias Mikdash 9:7) דעתו, שלא היה עמהם בחנוכה, לא הוא ולא presided over the וכן הדלקת הנרות כשירה בזרים לפיכך אם שבטו. אמר לו הקב”ה: חייך, שלך גדולה dedication of the משלהם, שאתה מדליק ומטיב את הנרות. Mishkan,W he experienced profoundly הטיב הכהן את הנרות והוציאן לחוץ מותר לזר להדליקן. conflicting emotions. On the one When Aharon saw the dedication of the hand, he stood ambitious and proud princes, he became despondent that he The lighting of the candles is permissible at the prospect of embracing the was not included in the dedication, not by a non-Kohen. Therefore, if a Kohen open and manifest presence of G-d him and not his tribe. The Holy One prepares the candles and brings them himself, within the limited and Blessed Be He said to him, “Don’t worry, outside, a non-Kohen may light them. physical parameters of the Mishkan. yours is greater than theirs because you An unprecedented notion — that light and prepare the candles.” The Menorah may, in fact, be lit G-d’s transcendence would somehow Rashi, Bamidbar 8:2 by a “zar” — a non-Kohen Jew. If, be sensed and experienced by all in fact, even a standard Jew may Somehow, the privilege of igniting those who entered the Mishkan light the Menorah, then how is this the flames of the Menorah are to of Hashem. Yet for some reason, sanctified activity something unique compensate for this awkward moment at this most celebratory and regal and precious that can restore the of dissonance. The Rishonim struggle moment, Aharon was relegated to a confidence of Aharon? to comprehend: in what manner is the more administrative role, excluded mitzvah of Menorah a replacement Upon granting license to the zar to from the procession of sacrifices that for the exciting experience that comes light the Menorah, the Rambam also inaugurated this most auspicious with initiating the Mishkan? This addresses the logistical quandary occasion: 4 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Chanukah 5780 of how a Jew can even reach the Menorah, when it is located in a section of the Mishkan that is prohibited to anyone who is not a Kohen. The Rambam tells us that the Kohen brings it outside. Even when the zar lights, the Kohen plays an integral role. It is the Kohen who brings the Menorah outside the Mikdash presenting it to the zar, who can then ignite its flame, and the Kohen who returns it to its proper place. Aharon HaKohen looked at the other leaders, all contributing to the communal experience of inaugurating Chanukah, more than any other This issue ofTorah To-Go focuses on the Mishkan. His anxiety was rooted holiday, is about our lighting a assimilation; those Jewish people who in a fear that with the construction of flame on the inside of our homes move daily throughout the “shuk,” the Mishkan he was no longer going and projecting it outside. The very unaware of the greatness of their to be a “man of the people”; he would mitzvah of pirsumei nissah (publicizing heritage and identity. So much of our instead be relegated to the sanctity religious life is focused on cultivating of G-d’s house. His entire focus of and nurturing the spiritual standing leading the nation from “within” — of Chanukah is about and commitment of ourselves and being an oheiv shalom and rodef shalom recognizing the vast our families. Chanukah is about — lover of peace and pursuer of recognizing the vast world of Jews peace, would have been undermined world of Jews beyond the beyond the orbit of our community. by this new role. orbit of our community, The majority of our people lack any G-d then comes to Aharon and tells to position the light sense of meaningful connection to the him: “Yours is greater than theirs greatness of Torah. Our community because you light and prepare the of our menorahs in a is uniquely positioned to educate candles.” manner that can inspire and inspire the broader Jewish world. Chanukah is about taking a moment Your role is not to administrate the them. Mishkan. Your role here is to uplift to appreciate the Jews walking down and inspire those who come to the the street and position the light of our Mishkan. Your role is to bring the light the miracles), the regulation of menorahs in a manner that can inspire of Judaism outside the confining walls ad shetichleh regel min hashuk (the them: To take the Torah outside the of the Sanctuary and empower others mitzvah lasts until the traffic clears Mikdash and bring it to the people. to ignite their spark. To be present in from the marketplace), entails a a Mikdash is to direct and concentrate sense of connection — between the the light of our faith outward. concentrated sanctity of the home, and shining that light outward. Find more shiurim and articles from Rabbi Yaakov Glasser at https://www.yutorah.org/Rabbi-Yaakov-Glasser 5 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Chanukah 5780 RIETS PRACTICAL HALACHAH: CHANUKAH BY RABBI ARYEH LEBOWITZ Director, The Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Semikha Program Rabbi, Beis HaKnesses of North Woodmere THE HAPPILY HOMELESS ON CHANUKAH Question: A young couple is planning to get married on Chanukah. The wedding is called for 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. While this is an especially wonderful and appropriate time to celebrate a simcha, the young couple has a very basic question: Where should they light? When the Gemara, Shabbos 21b, formulates the fundamental mitzvah of ner Chanukah, there are three elements to the formulation: ner, ish, u’beiso (a candle, a man, and his home). It would seem that the bride and groom, who are planning on staying at a hotel on their wedding night, do not really have a home.