From the Rabbi

Some scholars suggest that the reason for an eight-day holiday was less to do with the story of a miracle than the fact that Hanukkah was modeled on Sukkot, which also featured King Solomon’s dedication of the First Temple, recorded in 1 Kings: 8.  The Maccabees could not observe Sukkot while they were fugitives in the mountains of Judea so they made Hanukkah a kind of recompense for the festival they missed.  And it, too, of course, included the (re)dedication of the Temple.

Chag sameach,

Rabbi Barbara

Maimonides, the 12^th century philosopher and doctor who wrote The Guide for the Perplexed, (also known as the Rambam) claimed that since the Levis were not included in altar offerings, God promised Moses there would be another dedication: Hanukkah!

Chag sameach,

Rabbi Barbara

On Shabbat: Light your Hanukkia, then your Shabbat candles. At the end of Shabbat, first make havdalah and then light the hanukkia.  (Though here the rule of two Jews and three opinions applies because some Jews do exactly the opposite and begin with lighting the hanukkia!) In any case, the Rambam (Maimonides), 12th century Jewish philosopher, advises: If you must choose between spending money on Kiddush wine and lights for hanukkia, the latter wins.

Shabbat Shalom and chag sameach!

Rabbi Barbara

The rabbis advise making sure that your mezuzah is the right when you enter a home but that your hanukkiah is on the left side.  Why?  A door serves for entry and departure.  One’s hanukkiah is to the right on the way of departure.  May light be shed upon us  as we go “outside” to join the nations.

Chag sameach!

Rabbi Barbara

It is customary among the Sephardi communities in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) to arrange joint meals during Hanukkah. Friends who quarreled during the year are reconciled.

Chag Sameach!

Rabbi Barbara

Did you know? (Day 1!)

Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25^th of Kislev. The twenty-fifth word of the Torah is ohr (light) and the twenty-fifth place of encampment in the wilderness journey was Hasmoneh. The Hasmonean family led the rebellion against the Syrian king, Antiochus, who prohibited Jewish practice.

Click here for instructions for lighting your Hanukkiah.

Chag sameach!

Rabbi Barbara

Dear all,

At 8:40 Mountain Time, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi took his last breaths.

Reb Zalman, often described as the founder of Jewish Renewal, whose friends included Ram Das, the Dalai Lama, and countless other religious leaders.  He combined, in his practice and teaching, a deep ecumenism.

Reb Zalman opened Judaism up to a generation of disaffected Jews; his work led to the creation of ALEPH: The Alliance for Jewish Renewal.  The ALEPH seminary has ordained over 80 religious leaders.

I first met Reb Zalman in 2005 at an ALEPH Kallah.  I teach his work.  I hope to pass on his most gorgeous teachings.  For me, these include his injunction to his student to make our texts speak, to tap into the deep storytelling and wisdom of Chassidic traditions, to help transmit what it is to be Jewish with feeling.

For those who knew him, this is an inestimable loss.

Zichrono l’vracha, may his memory be for a blessing.

With sadness,

Rabbi Barbara