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CCoonntteennttss CHANUKA: LIGHTING UP THE MARKET-PLACE 4 D’VAR MALCHUS / SICHOS IN ENGLISH WILL IT HAVE ANY SUBSTANCE? 8 THE EDITOR’S CORNER / B. MERKUR EIGHT SPARKS THAT WERE IGNITED (PART 1 OF 2) U.S.A 10 744 Eastern Parkway STORIES FOR CHANUKA Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] 18 “I WILL COMBINE MY WORK IN EDUCATION www.beismoshiach.org WITH THE RABBANUS” ERETZ HA’KODESH 72915 s"cj rpf 102 /s/, CROWN HEIGHTS BEIS DIN (03) 9607-290 :iupky (03) 9607-289 :xep WHAT IS FITTING OF A CHASSID 27 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES / RABBI SHIMON NEUBORT M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur NO TO THE GREEKS, NO TO CONCESSIONS 30 FARBRENGEN WITH RABBI TUVIA BOLTON Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN GREAT WOMEN IN THE ALTER REBBE’S FAMILY 1082-0272 is published weekly except Jewish holidays for $130.00 in Crown 33 TREE (PART 2 OF 2) Heights, $140.00 in the USA & Canada, GREAT CHASSIDISHE WOMEN / M. SCHWARTZ all others for $150.00 per year (45 issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern THE CARNAGE IN CHEVRON WAS FORESEEN Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY 37 SHLEIMUS HA’ARETZ / S. GEFEN and additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213- THE 10TH ANNUAL CHANUKA PARADE IN ERETZ 3409. 41 YISROEL “TO GREET MOSHIACH” Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the NEWS / S.Z. LEVIN content of the advertisements. © Copyright 2002 by Beis Moshiach, Inc DD’’vvaarr MMaallcchhuuss CHANUKA: LIGHTING UP THE MARKET- PLACE SICHOS IN ENGLISH exception of the book of Esther.” It wicked king, were in power over the will remain forever like the Five entire civilized world. Nevertheless, SHABBOS PARSHAS VA’YEISHEV Books of Moshe and the halachos. the self-sacrifice of Mordechai, 25TH DAY OF KISLEV, 5750 Also, it is a mitzva to read the Esther, and the Jewish people as a 1. We find a unique phenomenon Megilla on Purim. But neither of whole, transformed the entire regarding Chanuka. The story of these factors apply to Megillas situation and brought about Chanuka is related at length in a Antiochus. There is a further salvation for the Jews. text called Megillas Antiochus. difference between the two: The Although this text is not one of the Megilla of Purim is named after There is, however, a difference in 24 books of the Bible, the halachic Esther, a righteous woman and the the manner in which the Sages authorities do refer to it, and, in heroine of the story, whereas the determined to have the holidays certain communities, it is customary Megilla of Chanuka is named after commemorated. The to read this text in public on Antiochus, a wicked gentile. commemoration of Purim centers Chanuka. This fact, however, seems around activities carried out in one’s to be an apparent contradiction. If The above difficulty can be home (the Purim feast) or in the Megillas Antiochus is not given the explained as follows: Chanuka and synagogue (the reading of the status of a book of the Bible, why is Purim represent the refinement of Megilla), i.e., these activities are set it read in public in certain the lowest levels of existence, the within a Jewish environment. communities? transformation of darkness to light. The Chanuka miracle took place at a The commemoration of The question is reinforced by a time of great spiritual darkness, Chanuka, however, centers around comparison to Purim. In many when the Greeks had entered the pirsumei nisa, publicizing the respects, Chanuka and Purim have Sanctuary. Nevertheless, despite Chanuka miracle. Thus, the equal status: Both were instituted by their desire to make the Jews “forget Chanuka candles are lit “at the the Sages, and work is permitted on Your Torah and violate the decrees entrance to the house, on the both of them, etc. In regard to the of Your will,” G-d “delivered the outside,” and must burn “until the text which records the holiday’s mighty into the hands of the weak... Tarmudites are no longer present in miracle, however, we find a drastic and the impure into the hands of the market-place.” Thus, these contrast. Megillas Esther is the pure,” and wrought the miracle candles are intended to illuminate considered one of the books of the of the Chanuka lights. the public thoroughfare and should Bible. Indeed, it is given special burn until even the last individuals importance. Our Sages relate that, Similarly, the Purim miracle are no longer present in the streets. “All the books of the prophets and occurred in a time when darkness was prevalent. Haman, the enemy of Significantly, all these terms, the holy writings will be nullified in “Tarmudites,” “market-place,” and the Messianic age with the the Jews, and Achashverosh, a 4 BEIS MOSHIACH 24 Kislev 5763 “public thoroughfare,” are all refinement accomplished through life-force is draws down for this associated with the forces of evil. Torah study. The very fact that a object. Through the light of Chanuka, person studies about a certain Torah symbolic of “the candle of mitzva subject causes the refinement of that Thus, originally, when Lashon and the light of Torah,” these forces subject in the world at large. HaKodesh was spoken, even in are transformed into good. regard to mundane matters, it b) The elevation from below to served to reveal the Divine life-force This quality represents the above: This movement involves present in each entity. Every advantage of Chanuka over Purim. lowering oneself and involving individual, regardless of his Although Purim also expresses oneself (needless to say, according spiritual level, even one who transformation, that transformation to the Torah’s guidelines) in rebelled against G-d, brought out involved the fate of the Jewish activities with gentiles and their the Divine life-force present within people and is commemorated by languages and thus, employing the world through the mere use of celebrations among the Jewish these activities and languages for Lashon HaKodesh. people themselves. In contrast, the sake of Torah and the service of Chanuka is commemorated by “Knowing G-d in all your ways.” Nevertheless, the sin of the spreading the light of the candles tower of Babel brought about a into the market place, effecting the To focus on the concept of the descent in the spiritual level of the gentiles as well. gentile languages. In the beginning of Creation, everyone spoke Lashon HaKodesh (the Holy Tongue), as the Torah states, “The entire earth was It is customary not to Chanuka is of one language.” After the construction of the tower of Babel, study Torah on commemorated by G-d “confused the speech of the Nittul... The Rebbe spreading the light of entire earth,” and from that time onward, people began to speak in Rashab, would either the candles into the different languages. play chess (or give market place, It is improper to speak about mundane matters in Lashon advice to others to effecting the gentiles, HaKodesh. If so, the question arises: During the many generations that play chess) on that as well. existed before the tower of Babel, when Lashon HaKodesh was the only night. language spoken, how was this “holy tongue” used for mundane In addition to the above concept, matters. Furthermore, this epoch world. When the people of that era to resolve the questions raised from included several generations, e.g., wanted to cut themselves off from the outset, it is necessary to explain the generation of Enosh and the their spiritual source, they the refinement of the gentiles and generation of the flood, when the prevented the possibility of the seventy languages they speak. In people were decadent idolaters. revealing the Divine life-force general, there are two approaches to How could Lashon HaKodesh be used through speech. (Hence, there is, as this service of refinement: by these individuals? mentioned above, precautions The concept can be explained as against using Lashon HaKodesh for a) The revelation from above to mundane purposes.) Thus, G-d’s below: When one’s service in the follows: Every element of existence, even the most mundane matters and “confusion of the languages of the realm of holiness is powerful, the world,” began a new order of light of holiness is drawn down to those which oppose holiness contains a spark of holiness and has service. It was no longer possible for even the lowest levels and brings speech, in and of itself, to be a about refinement. Chassidic thought its source in Lashon HaKodesh. As explained in Tanya, G-d created the positive act. Rather, effort had to be describes this concept with a made that when one descended to metaphor of a large torch which world through speech and the name of an object in Lashon HaKodesh is speak these other languages, one draws sparks to it. This effect can be intended to elevate them to compared to the process of the mechanism by which the Divine Issue Number 392 BEIS MOSHIACH 5 holiness. world than that which can be the forces of holiness, is the one accomplished through Lashon who accomplishes this process of The Alter Rebbe explains the HaKodesh. refinement. difference between the letters of Lashon HaKodesh and the letters of Based on the above, we can Chanuka, in contrast, elevates other languages as follows: The understand the difference between and refines the gentiles as they exist letters of Lashon HaKodesh can be the refinement of the gentiles and “in the market-place,” i.e., on their compared to stones, which are the world at large associated with own level, before they have been creations of G-d, whereas the letters the Purim miracle and that influenced by Lashon HaKodesh.

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