Hanukkah And Purim: Similar Yet Different
Mon 7, 14, 21, 28 Nov 2016 / 6, 13, 20, 27 Heshvan 5777Dr Maurice M. MizrahiCourse for Jewish Community Center of Northern VirginiaB”HHanukkah and Purim:Similar yet DifferentIntroduction-Hanukkah and Purim, the next two holidays, are not in Torah: Bothare rabbinic.-Torah only has Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the three pilgrimagefestivals – Pessah, Shavuot and Sukkot.-Both colorful – stay in mind of kids.-Both celebrate Jewish victory over persecution.-Both miraculous: We recite Al HaNissim on both.-Both so important rabbis turned their observance into post-Torah(rabbinic) commandments.YET:-The story of Purim has a book in the Bible (Esther), a tractate in theTalmud (Megillah) and a volume in the Midrash (Esther Rabbah).Hanukkah has none of them. It rates only a few mentions in Talmud[Shabbat 21a-24a], as an appendage to a discussion of what wicks andoils one can use for Shabbat lights.-The Book of Esther does not mention God, yet is in the Bible; theBooks of Maccabees do, yet are not in the Bible.-The story of Purim is not known outside the Bible, yet is in the Bible.The events of Hanukkah are known outside the Bible, yet are not inthe Bible.-Hallel (psalms of praise for God) recited on Hanukkah, but not Purim.-Hanukkah began with the physical (armed rebellion) and ended withthe spiritual (rededication of the Temple). Purim began with thespiritual (prayer and fasting) and ended with the physical (armedresistance to killers).-On Purim, persecutors wanted to kill ALL the Jews. On Hanukkah,persecutors wanted to kill only observant Jews.1
Note: The State of Israel is no less a miracle than those celebrated byHanukkah and Purim.-We will explore:-History behind each-How each celebrated – commandments and customs-Authorship of biblical books-Talmudic debates on what books to include in Bible (Esther yes;Maccabees no)-Special Hanukkah topics-Hanukkah in the Bible?-Menorahs on Public Property?-Story of the mother and her seven sons-“Hanukkah bush”-Other-Special Purim topics-Should you get drunk on Purim?-Issue of intermarriage-Vashti, a feminist icon?-To bow or not to bow?-Other2
What does Hanukkah commemorate?-First recorded struggle for religious freedom-Story in extra-biblical Books of Maccabees-I wrote this children’s story for the “Hanukkah diskette”, part ofJudaica software my then-ten-year-old son Michael and I produced inthe late 1980s:The story of Hanukkah (for children)Dr Maurice M. MizrahiA long, long time ago -- more than two thousand years ago! -- the Jewswere living happily in the land of Israel. They had a beautiful Temple inwhich they worshipped God. They studied the Torah and followed theJewish traditions.Then one day, a conqueror named Alexander invaded the land and madeit part of his Greek empire. When he died, a wicked king named Antiochusbecame the ruler of the Jews.Antiochus was wicked because he would not let the Jews worship God intheir own way. He wanted them to worship the Greek gods. These godswere not real, but the Greek people believed they were. He also wantedthem to worship him! Can you imagine, people worshipping a man insteadof God?Antiochus tried to prevent the Jews from teaching the Torah to theirchildren. He burned Torah scrolls and defiled the Temple. He would notallow the Jews to follow their traditions. He forced them to eat foods thatwere forbidden by the Torah. He made them work on Shabbat. He broughtGreek statues in the Temple.He even killed many, many Jews who refused to obey him. Everybodywas afraid of him.The Jews were very sad, but instead of crying too much they decided tofight back. A Jewish priest named Mattathias went up to the mountains tolead the fight. He had five sons: Eleazar, Simon, John, Jonathan, andJudah.After Mattathias died, Judah became the leader of the Jews. He wascalled “Judah Maccabee”. In Hebrew, this means “Judah the Hammer”,because he was so good at hitting back the wicked invaders. The peopleloved him and followed him.3
Judah fought many battles with the Greeks, and won most of them. Hewon even though the Greeks had a lot more weapons and a lot moresoldiers than Judah.The most important battle was the one where he took Jerusalem backfrom the invaders. Jerusalem is the city where the Temple stood. It is thecapital of the state of Israel today.When Judah Maccabee led the Jews back to Jerusalem and the Temple,he found that much had been destroyed, and had to be rebuilt. When theTemple had been repaired, the Jews looked for special oil to light amenorah, to celebrate their victory.But they could only find one small cruse of oil. It was so small that it couldlight the menorah for only one day.But then a miracle happened: The oil burned for eight days, not just one!The people were so happy they decided to have a special celebrationeach year, to remember that miracle, and to remember their victory overAntiochus. They decided the celebration would last eight days, becausethe oil burned for eight days.What is the name of this celebration? You guessed it: It's Hanukkah!Hanukkah is a Hebrew word that means “dedication”, because atHanukkah we remember the time when the Temple was again dedicatedto the worship of God.On Hanukkah we eat many foods that have been fried in oil, to rememberthe oil that lasted for eight days. Some of these foods are potato pancakes,called “latkes”, and jelly doughnuts, called “sufganiyot”.But most of all, we light candles at Hanukkah: One candle on the first day,two candles on the second day, and so on until the eighth day.These lights remind us of the menorah that Judah Maccabee lit when hetook Jerusalem back. They remind us that we must fight for the right tofollow our own Jewish traditions. The lights also remind us that, evenwhen we feel very sad, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow.4
What does Purim commemorate?Esther lives in Persia. Her cousin Mordechai raises her as hisdaughter. Esther becomes part of King Ahashverosh's harem. Hemakes her queen, but does not know she is Jewish. Mordechaiadvises her not to tell. Haman, advisor to the king, hates Mordechaibecause Mordechai refused to bow down to him. So he plans to killall the Jews, telling the king:There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among thepeople in all the provinces of your realm. Their laws are different fromthose of every other people, and they do not observe the king's laws.Therefore it is not befitting the king to tolerate them. [Esther 3:8]The king tells Haman to do as he pleases with them. Mordechaiconvinces Esther to plead for her people. She and other Jews fastfor three days, then she goes to see the king, tells him who she is,and informs him of Haman's plot. The king allows the Jews to armthemselves and fight their killers, and they prevail. Scholars believethat King Ahashverosh was Xerxes I of Persia (485-465 BCE).The Book of Esther is the only book of the Bible that does notmention God. However:-Mordechai does say that if Esther will not plead for her people, theJews will be saved by “someone else”, but details are not spelled out:Mordechai [told] Esther: Do not think that you yourself shall escape[because you are] in the king's palace, any more than the rest of the Jews.If you remain silent, then relief and deliverance shall come to the Jewsfrom another place, but you and your father's house shall be destroyed.And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such atime as this? [Esther 4:13-14]-Haman's wife and his advisers do tell him:If Mordechai is really of the seed of the Jews, then you will not prevailagainst him, but you shall surely fall before him. [Esther 6:13]-TheShabbat before Purim is Shabbat Zakhor -- The Sabbath ofRemembrance. The first words of the Torah portion are:Remember (Zakhor) what Amalek did to you as you came out of Egypt .You will not forget. [Deut. 25:17-19]Haman is a descendant of Amalek, because the Bible calls him anAgagite, and Agag was king of the Amalekites fighting King Saul[1Samuel 15:1-34] (which is the haftarah of the week).5
How is Hanukkah observed?-Mitzvah: Light the hanukiah after sunset on the eve of each of theeight days of Hanukkah, from 25 Kislev on.-”Publicize the miracle” (Pirsumay Nisa): Place hanukiah near awindow, visible from the street, “except in times of danger”. [Shabbat 21b]Rava asked: [If there is a choice between lighting] the Hanukkah lightsand saying kiddush over the wine [for the Sanctification of Shabbat], is[kiddush] more important, because it is a more frequent obligation [weekly,whereas kindling the Hanukkah lights is only an annual event]? Or arethe Hanukkah lights preferable, on account of publicizing the miracle?After asking, he himself answered it: The Hanukkah lights are preferable,because they publicize the miracle. [Shabbat 23b]Chabad has been erecting giant hanukiot all over the world.-Make special effort to observe mitzvah. Rambam:It is said that “Even he who depends on charity should borrow, or sell hiscloak, to buy oil and lamps and light the Hanukkah lights” [Rambam, Yad,Megillah va-Hanukkah 4:12].-Either one hanukiah per household or one per family member:Our Rabbis taught: The commandment of Hanukkah [requires] one[hanukiah] for a man and his household. The zealous [kindle] a [hanukiah]for each member [of the household]. [Shabbat 21b]-Put candles in hanukiah from right to left: One for the first day, twofor the second day, etc.:Beth Shammai maintain: On the first day 8 lights are lit and thereafter theyare gradually reduced [one per day]; but Beth Hillel say: On the first dayone is lit and thereafter they are progressively increased [one per day] .Beth Hillel's reason is that in [matters of] holiness, we increase but do notreduce [Maalin bakodesh, ve-en moridin]. [Shabbat 21b]-Light an extra candle (the “shammash”, or “attendant”) to light theothers, one by one, from left to right. Total candles needed: 44.-You may use an oil menorah (Sephardic tradition). Olive oil ispreferred because it “yields a clearer light”. [Shabbat 23a]-Recite three blessings before lighting: For the lights, for the miracle,for the season (“sheheheyanu” -- first night only).-Recite “Hannerot hallalu” (“These lights”)-Add Al HaNissim to daily prayers and Grace after Meals:And [we thank You] for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mightydeeds, for the saving acts, and for the wonders which You have wroughtfor our ancestors in those days, at this time.[Then recalls events of Hanukkah:]In the days of Matityahu, the son of Yochanan the High Priest, theHasmonean and his sons, when the wicked Hellenic government rose upagainst Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and violate the6
decrees of Your will. But You, in Your abounding mercies, stood by themin the time of their distress. You waged their battles, defended their rights,and avenged the wrong done to them. You delivered the mighty into thehands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into thehands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and thewanton sinners into the hands of those who occupy themselves with YourTorah. You made a great and holy name for Yourself in Your world, andeffected a great deliverance and redemption for Your people Israel to thisvery day. Then Your children entered the shrine of Your House, cleansedYour Temple, purified Your Sanctuary, kindled lights in Your holycourtyards, and instituted these eight days of Hanukkah to give thanksand praise to Your great Name.-Sing traditional songs (e.g. “Ma'oz Tzur”)-Sephardim recite Psalm 30, “A psalm and song at the dedication ofthe house”.-Hanukkah days are regular workdays (except for Shabbat).-Do not work while the lights are burning.-Do not use the lights for any purpose (light, heat, beauty, etc.)-Customary to eat foods fried in oil (latkes, or levivot -- potatopancakes; sufganiyot -- doughnuts.-Do not fast. [Shabbat 21b]-Feasts are customary.-Give children money (Hanukkah “gelt”) or other gifts.-Encourage them to play with dreydels (“s'vivon”), which are smalltops with four sides, with the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, heh, and shinon each side (for “nes gadol haya sham”, “a great miracle happenedthere”). In Israel shin becomes peh (for “nes gadol haya po”, “a greatmiracle happened here”).-Israel has torch relay races from Modi'in, where the Maccabeanrevolt began. Large Hanukiah kindled atop Knesset and otherbuildings, visible from afar.-Read Torah section describing sacrifices at dedication of Sanctuary,and lighting of the Menorah. [Numbers 7:1-8:4]-Read haftarah section where Zechariah encourages rebuilding ofTemple that had been destroyed in 586 BCE. [Zechariah 2:14-4:7]-Recite Hallel at services.-Some consider Hanukkah lights to symbolize the modernreawakening of the Jewish people.7
How is Purim observed?-Mitzvah: Listen to the reading of the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) onthe eve, and then again on the day, of Purim (14 Adar, or 14 Adar IIin leap years). Say blessing before.-The actual mitzvah is to read the Megillah aloud. But saying “Amen” aftersomeone else reads it aloud fulfills obligation.-When you hear Haman's name, boo, hiss, stamp your feet, twirlgraggers (ra-ashanim, or noisemakers), and give other sonoroussigns of disapproval to drown out his name. Purim is the only timewhen it's a mitzvah to make noise!-Add Al HaNissim to daily prayers and grace after meals:And [we thank You] for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mightydeeds, for the saving acts, and for the wonders which You have wroughtfor our ancestors in those days, at this time.[Then recall events of Purim:]In the Days of Mordechai and Esther, in Shushan, the capital, whenHaman, the wicked, rose up against them and sought to destroy, to slay,and to exterminate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, on thesame day, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is the month ofAdar, and to plunder their possessions; But You, in Your abundant mercy,nullified his counsel and frustrated his intention and caused his design toreturn upon his own head and they hanged him and his sons on thegallows.-Do not recite Hallel.-Fast on the day before Purim (Fast of Esther, 13 Adar), from 3 hoursbefore sunrise to 40 minutes after sunset, to commemorate the day offasting and prayer the Jews held before their victory.-Persian (Iranian) Jews have always adhered more strictly than othersto the Fast of Esther on 13 Adar.-Bible says:They are to observe these as days of feasting and gladness, and forsending delicacies to one another, and giving gifts to the poor. [Esther 9:22]So:-Eat a festive meal on the day of Purim, with family and friends(se'udat Purim).-Joke: A Jew was eating a large meal on 13 Adar, the day of the Fast ofEsther. When his friends took him to task, he said: “Mordechai was wrongin not bowing down to Haman, thereby endangering his wholecommunity.” The next day the same man was seen enjoying the Purimse'udah, the traditional festive meal of Purim. When asked why he turnedobservant from one day to the next, he said: “I listened to the reading of8
the Megillah in shul this morning, and concluded I was wrong. Mordechaihad indeed acted properly. So today I am repenting and observing thePurim tradition.” -Eat hamantaschen (or Oznay Haman -- Haman's ears) -- triangularcookies, in the shape of Haman's hat, filled with jam or poppy seeds.-Become so drunk that you cannot tell the difference between“Baruch Mordechai” (“Blessed be Mordechai”) and “Arur Haman”(“Cursed be Haman”). A Talmudic injunction!-Go to a community Purim carnival wearing a mask or a costume.They are usually held on the nearest Sunday. Play games like “Pinthe hat on Haman's head”, “Find your way to Shushan”, etc. Largepublic parades (“Adloyada”) in Israel.-Listen to a Purim spiel, a funny play reenacting the story of Purim.The script is usually original and local.-Send gifts of food to friends (cookies, fruit, beverages) (mishloachmanot). The messengers are usually children.-Give charity (tzedakah) to the poor, preferably directly (mattanot laevyonim).-Give 3 half-dollar coins to charity to commemorate the half-shekeleach Jew gave at the time of the Temple (Machatzit Hashekel).-Some Jewish communities also celebrate a “local” Purim, tocommemorate their deliverance from a great danger. The celebrationfollows the pattern of Purim (scroll reading, prayers of thanksgiving,banquet, etc.). Examples:-Narbonne (29 Adar, since 1236)-Frankfurt (20 Adar, since 1616)-Leghorn (22 Shevat, since 1743)-Cairo (28 Adar, since 1524). (I grew up with it.) Story:In 1524 the Governor of Egypt, Ahmed Pasha, was going to exterminate all theJews of Cairo unless an impossible sum of money was paid to him, much morethan all their assets combined. But he was also plotting against the Emperor,Suleiman. On the deadline he set for the Jews, the 28th of Adar, he wasassassinated by troops loyal to the Emperor, and the Jews were saved. Sincethat time, a scroll recounting that story was read in Egyptian synagogues on thatday, Purim Mitzrayim, the Purim of Egypt.-In Europe, some elected a talmudic student as rabbi for the day.-Purim will be observed forever:-Bible:Thesedays should be remembered and kept throughout everygeneration, every family, every province, and every city. Thesedays of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, northe memory of them perish from their descendants. [Esther 9:28]-Talmud:9
-In the Time to Come all Prophets and Writings will lose their worth,except for the Torah of Moses and the Book of Esther. [Megillah Y 1:5]-Our rabbis taught: 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses prophesied toIsrael, and they neither took away from nor added to what is writtenin the Torah, except for the reading of the Megillah. [Megillah 14a]-Midrash:All festivals will be abolished in the future except Purim and YomKippur. [Yalkut Shim'oni on Proverbs 9:2]10
The seven rabbinic mitzvotThey are:1-Recite a blessing before each enjoyment, e.g.:-Food: Motzi, mezonot, ha-etz, ha-adamah, etc.-Drink: Boreh peri haggafen, shehakol nih'ye bidvaro, etc.-Other: Boreh minnei b'samim, boreh me-orei ha-esh, ha-mavdilben kodesh l'chol, leshev ba'sukah, likvo'a m'zuza, shehecheyyanu,al hat-villa, hagomel, etc.2-Wash hands ritually before eating bread (al netillat yadayim)3-Kindle Shabbat lights (le-hadlik ner shel Shabbat)4-Build an eruv to be able to carry into public areas on Shabbat(al mitzvat eruv)5-Recite the Hallel psalms on holy days (likro et ha-hallel)6-Light the Hanukkah lights (le-hadlik ner shel Hanukkah)7-Read the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) on Purim (al mikramegillah)The last three have to do with Hanukkah and Purim.These are rabbinic mitzvot (d'rabbanan), but are treated as biblicalmitzvot (d'oraita), because preceded by:Baruch atta HaShem Elokenu melech ha-olam, (asher kidshanubemitzvotav, vetzivanu) Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, (Who hassanctified us by your commandments, and has commanded us to).“Keter Torah” (“The Crown of the Torah”) 620 (613 7).Divine origin implied in commandment to follow instructions of rabbis[Deuteronomy 17:11, 32:7; Shabbat 23a].HallelHallel means “praise”. Psalm 136 is called The Great Hallel (HallelHaGadol) because it praises God profusely and every other line is:Ki leolam hasdoFor His mercy endures foreverWhat we call “The Hallel” consists of six other Psalms, 113-118, thatalso praise God. So the Talmud asks, since we have The GreatHallel, why do we need the other one? [Pesachim 118a] And it answers:Because it contains five fundamental Jewish themes:1-The Exodus2-The Spitting of the Sea11
3-The Giving of the Torah4-The Resurrection of the Dead5-The Coming of the Messiah1-The Exodus in “Betset Yisrael miMitzrayim -- When Israel came outof Egypt” [Ps 114:1]2-The Spitting of the Sea in “Hayyam ra'a vayyanos -- The sea sawand fled” [Ps 114:3]3-The Giving of the Torah in “He-harim rakedu che-elim -- Themountains skipped like rams” [Ps 114:4]4-The Resurrection of the Dead in “Et-halech lifnei HaShem [beartzot ha-chayyim] -- I shall walk before the Lord [in the land of theliving]” [Ps 116:9.]5-The coming of the Messiah in “Lo lanu, HaShem, lo lanu -- Not forour sake, O Lord, not for our sake, [redeem us]”. [Ps 115:1]The “regular” Hallel is called the “Egyptian Hallel” because itemphasizes the Exodus. It is recited on Pessah, Shavuot, Sukkot,Hanukkah and Rosh Chodesh. (Now also Yom Haatsmaut.)-Not on Purim (because miracle not in Israel, and Jews stills subjects offoreign king after miracle) [Megillah 14a]-Not on Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur. Talmud:Is it seemly for the king to be sitting on His Throne of Judgment, with the Booksof Life and Death open before Him, and for the people to sing joyful praises toHim? [Arachin 10b]-Only partial Hallel (Chatzi) on the last six days of Pessah (because of thedamage done to Egypt) and on Rosh Chodesh (because introduced muchlater).Near the end, in “Odcha ki anitani”, custom is to repeat each versetwice. Rashi: It’s because earlier part of Ps 118 repeats themestwice, such as:-It is better to take refuge in God than to trust in man.It is better to take refuge in God than to trust in princes.-The right hand of God does valiantly.The right hand of God is exalted.but only up to “Odcha”. So people decided to continue the pattern tothe end of the psalm. We rise during Hallel because it testifies toHashem’s miracles and testimony must be made standing [MishnahBerurah 422:28].12
Behind the BibleHow did the Tanach get put together?What was included and what was left out?And why?The Talmud lists the authors of all the biblical Books:-Umi ch’tavan? And who are the writers [of the Scriptures]?-Moshe katav sifro, Moses wrote his book [that is, the Torah, dictated byGod],-uparshat Bilaam, and the parts dealing with the gentile prophet Bilaam, inthe Book of Numbers, [Num. 23-24]-v’Iyyov, and the Book of Job.-Yehoshua katav sifro, Joshua wrote his book,-ve-shmona f’sukim she-baTorah, and [the last] eight verses of the Torah[which deal with the death of Moses].-Samuel wrote his book and the Books of Judges and Ruth.-[King] David wrote the Book of Psalms, including in it the work of theelders, namely, Adam, Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, Heman [theEzrahite], Yeduthun, Asaph, and the three sons of Korach.-Jeremiah wrote his book, the Book of Kings, and Lamentations.-[King] Hezekiah and his assistants wrote [compiled?] Isaiah, Proverbs,Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes.[Tradition ascribes Song of Songs, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes to KingSolomon when he was young/middle-aged/old]-The Men of the Great Assembly wrote Ezekiel, the Twelve Prophets,Daniel, and the Scroll of Esther.[The Men of the Great Assembly, or Anshei Knesset HaGedolah,were a group of 120 sages that ruled between the age of theprophets (ending with Malachi, near end of Babylonian exile) and theage of the rabbis, ongoing.]Ezra wrote his book and the genealogies of the Book of Chronicles up tohis own time. Who then completed it? Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah.[Bava Batra 14b-15a]So the Torah was dictated to Moses by God, but all subsequentbooks after the Torah were written by inspired individuals. Some ofthese books were controversial, but after much discussion the Sagesaccepted them as part of the Bible. Many other books wereexamined, found to be unacceptable, and rejected.Let us examine first the controversial books that were eventuallyaccepted. (Note: When a book is deemed “holy” or “inspired”, the13
Talmud says it “defiles the hands”, meaning it requires handwashingafter handling the scroll. The following quotes will simply say “holy”.)-The Song of Songs. Controversial because does not mention Godexplicitly and deemed too erotic:-Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that feed amongthe lilies. [Song of Songs 4:5]-You are all beautiful, my love; there is no blemish in you. [Song of Songs 4:7]Eventually it came to be understood as a love poem between Godand the Jews, not between a man and a woman. Akiva waschampion:Rabbi Akiva said The whole world is not as worthy as the day on whichthe Song of Songs was given to Israel, for all the writings are holy but theSong of Songs is the holy of holies. [Mishna, Yadayim 3:5]-The Book of Ecclesiastes. Most controversial because toopessimistic, self-contradictory, and just one man’s opinion:-Havel havalim, amar Kohelet, havel havalim, hakol havelVanity of vanities, said Kohelet, vanity of vanities. All is vanity. [Ecc. 1:1]-Ma yitron ha-Adam bechol ‘amalo she-yaamol tachat ha-shemesh?What does a man gain from all his labor under the sun? [Ecc. 1:3]-Ve-en kol chadash tachat ha-shemeshAnd there is nothing new under the sun. [Ecc. 1:9]Talmud:-The Sages wished to hide the Book of Ecclesiastes, because its wordsare self-contradictory. Yet why did they not hide it? Because its beginningis religious teaching and its end is religious teaching.-Its beginning is.What profit does man have of all his labor under the sun? [Eccl. 1:3].Under the sun he has none, but he has [profit] before the sun.[That is, he profits if he toils in the Torah, which existed before the sun][Pes. 54a; Ned. 39b].-Its end is.:Let us hear the conclusion of the matter, fear God, and keep hiscommandments: for this is the whole of man [Eccl. 12:13]The entire world was created only for the sake of this [type of] man.[Shabbat 30b]Midrash:Rabbi Beniamin bar Levi stated: The Sages wanted to exclude the Book ofEcclesiastes, for they found in it ideas that leaned towards heresy. Theyargued: Was it right that Solomon should have said the following:14
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer youin the days of your youth [Eccl. 11:9]?Moses said:Do not seek after your own heart and your own eyes [Num. 15:39],but Solomon said:Walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes [Eccl.11:9]!What then? Is all restraint to be removed? Is there neither justice norjudge? When, however, he said:But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment[Eccl. 11:9],they admitted that Solomon had spoken well [But again,] should Solomon have uttered the following:What does a man gain from all his labor [under the sun]? [Eccl. 1:3]This might imply, might it not, that labor in the study of the Torah was alsoincluded? On the other hand, they argued, if he had said “of all labor” andleft it at that, we might have thought that he meant to include also labor inthe study of the Torah. However, he does not say this, but says, “of all HISlabor”, implying that it is in his own labor that man finds no profit, but thathe does find profit in the labor of studying Torah.Rabbi Yudan explained that “under the sun” he has no profit, but “abovethe sun” [in heaven] he does. [Leviticus R. 28:1]Another challenge:Rabbi Shim’on b. Menasia said: Ecclesiastes [is not holy] because itcontains only the wisdom of Solomon [that is, no divine inspiration]. Theysaid to him, [But Solomon also wrote] “3000 proverbs”. [1Kings, 5:12] [Sincethese were not written down and Ecclesiastes was, we conclude thatEcclesiastes was inspired.] [Megillah 7a]-The Book of Esther. Controversial because it does not mentionGod and Purim is not biblically mandated. Jerusalem Talmud:The rabbis said: “Have we not had enough of impending oppressions?Do you want to increase them by recalling the oppression of Haman?”Rabbi Shmuel ben Nachman said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan:“85 elders, including 30 prophets, refused to recognize the Feast of Purim.They said: Moses has told us that no prophet should add anything to theTorah, and yet Mordechai and Esther desired to create and establish anew institution [as recorded in the Book of Esther]!” They did not cease toponder over it, until God opened their eyes and they found justification forit written in the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings. [Megillah Y 1:5]Talmud:-Rav Yehudah said in the name of Shmuel: [The scroll] of Esther [is notholy]. It was composed to be recited [by heart], but not to be written.15
-Rabbi Eleazar said: Esther was composed under the inspiration of theholy spirit, because it says, “And Haman said in his heart” [Esth. 6:6] [Howcould the author know this if he was not inspired?]-Rabbi Akiva says: [It also] says, “And Esther obtained favor in the eyes ofall that looked upon her.” [Esth. 2:15, Again: How could the author knowthis if he was not inspired?]-Rabbi Meir says: [It also ] says, “And the thing became known toMordechai.” [Esth. 2:22. Who revealed it to him if not the holy spirit?][Talmud, Megillah 7a]-The Book of Proverbs. Controversial because deemed selfcontradictory. Talmud:They desired to exclude also the Book of Proverbs, because itsstatements are self-contradictory. Yet why did they not exclude it? They[found.] a reconciliation.How are its statements self-contradictory? It is written:Do not answer a fool according to his folly. [Prov. 26:4]yet it is also written:Answer a fool according to his folly. [Prov. 26:5]There is no difficulty: One refers to matters of learning, [that is, Torah, inwhich case he may be answered, and] the other to general matters [inwhich case he does not have to be answered]. [Shabbat 30b]-The Book of Job. Controversial because suspected of beingfictional. Talmud:-A certain rabbi [said], Job never was and never existed, but is only atypical figure [to teach the virtue of resignation.]-[Rabbi Shmuel ben Nahmani] replied: [But.] the text says, “There was aman in the land of Uz. Job was his name”. [Job 1:1] [His name and city aregiven. Why do that if it’s only a parable?][Bava Batra 15a]-The Book of Ezekiel. Controversial because contradicts Torah.Talmud:Rav Yehudah said in Rav's name: In truth, that man, Hananiah barHezekiah by name, is to be remembered for blessing If it weren’t for him,the Book of Ezekiel would have been excluded, for its words contradictedthe Torah. [Ezek. 18:4,20 with Ex. 20:5, 24:7; Ezek. 44:31 with Lev. 22:8; Ezek. 44:22with Lev. 21:14; also Ezek. 45:20, about a sacrifice for th
Books of Maccabees do, yet are not in the Bible. -The story of Purim is not known outside the Bible, yet is in the Bible. The events of Hanukkah are known outside the Bible, yet are not in the Bible. -Hallel (psalms of praise for God) recited on Hanukkah, but not Purim. -Hanukkah
lights. There are many special foods eaten during Christmas. Christmas is a major holiday for Christians. Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration. The word Hanukkah means dedication. Other people refer to it as the festival of lights. Hanukkah is a special festival reminding the Jewish people wha
Hanukkah Blessings Candles are added to the hanukkiyah (menorah) from right to left but are kindled from left to right. The newest candle is lit first. (On the Shabbat of Hanukkah, kindle the Hanukkah lights first and then the Shabbat candles.) Light the shamash (the helper candle) first, using it to kindle the rest of the Hanukkah lights.
Mar 08, 2019 · Please bring matzah ball soup mix and/or grape juice for the JFS Food Pantry. There will also be a tzedakah box to make a donation to JVS for Refugee Resettlement so that we can fulfill the mitzvah of Matanot L’Evyonim on Purim. Purim Schedule Sunday, March 12th – All Ages Purim Celebra
Hanukkah Vocabulary Words dreidel a children's game played with a small four-sided top with Hebrew letters marked on the sides, usually at Hanukkah Kislev the third month of the Jewish lunisolar calendar, occurring from late November through early December in the Gregorian calenda
Lyrics to the songs of The Rebbe of Oz: TAS Purim Shpiel 2017 Opening Song (Sung to the tune of “The Merry Old Land of Oz”) Come on in – sit right down We’ve a couple of laughs for you That’s right – another Purim shpiel And we’re happy to say it’s ne
Pesach 5781/2021The 1 Norrice Leader News & Views from Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue Pesach 5781/2021 020 8455 8126 www.hgss.org.uk swxc Purim Unmasked T his year we enjoyed lively Purim c
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AngularJS is an extensible and exciting new JavaScript MVC framework developed by Google for building well-designed, structured and interactive single-page applications (SPA). It lays strong emphasis on Testing and Development best practices such as templating and declarative bi-directional data binding. This cheat sheet co-authored by Ravi Kiran and Suprotim Agarwal, aims at providing a quick .
