Hanukkah / Add It Up TODAY'S MESSAGE IS DEDICATED Their dispute can be explained if we look at the nature of fire. Fire can produce holiness through its power to consume. Offerings were brought on the Although we need both which is paramount? Bet Shammai say one must purify them self from the evil before any positive growth can be implemented and achieved. One who is not pure of heart cannot enter the world of pure Torah study. He or she faces the strong possibility of misinterpreting the truths of the Torah. Bet Hillel agrees with Bet Shammai in principle but feel that one cannot afford to wait until one is totally pure before beginning one's quest for the holiness of the Torah. If one waits to get rid of ALL of the bad one may never get to start one's journey on the road to spirituality. Bet Hillel says accentuate the positive -- the light -- and start your climb, while working on purifying oneself from the impurity. Some people make the mistake in thinking that the fullness of Torah is for Rabbis and Scholars not "regular" people. This is not true. One must commit to a life of growth and a quest for the truth that only the whole Torah can offer. Yes, one must work on eliminating bad habits and bad ideas, but one must patiently add to one's light of understanding of Misvot and ethics on a daily basis --one day at a time. It only takes a minute to commit but it takes a lifetime of daily growth to complete the task.
DID YOU KNOW THAT There is a custom to distribute money to children on Hanukkah [not presents]. (Source Kaf Hahayim Siman 670:4). The reason is that the Greeks tried to dissuade our children from the learning of Torah so that they would assimilate; therefore they were given money [as a prize] to encourage them to learn. This is in keeping with the interpretation of Maimonides who says that a teacher should tell a child “ Learn this chapter or this Mishna and I will give you a dollar”. Therefore the custom developed to give children money on Hanukkah to encourage them to learn Torah. {Source, Halakha V’Ta-ameha, Hanukkah chap 2:16] WOULD YOU LIKE TO DEDICATE A MESSAGE IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY OF A LOVED ONE? REFUAH SHELEMA? Click Here to go to the 'Donations' area, or E-mail your dedication to RBEYDA2000@AOL.COM . You can Mail your check for: $101 - Shabbat And Holidays $52 - Weekdays Mail To: Raymond Beyda 408 Avenue O Brooklyn, NY 11230 |