In this short video Rabbi Anava explains one of the mystical reasons why we light the Chanuka candles right after Sundown and till the stars come out and what benefit we gain from this Mitzvah Duration of class: 25:22              

As we celebrate Chanukah we often wonder what when on then and how is it connected to our times. The war with the greek then is still a battle we fight now – Fascinating class with Rabbi Alon Anava Duration of class: 1:08:15              

As we celebrate Chanukah we often wonder what is this holiday about and why are we lighting candles to celebrate this holiday. Must be something deeper than what we think…. Fascinating class with Rabbi Anava that reveals what we were missing Powerful Tikon at the end of the video Duration of class: 1:07:34              

“….The deliverances, miracles, and wonders which you have performed for our forefathers, in those days at this time, through your holy Kohanim….” – Haneiros Halalu ״….על התשועות ועל הניסים ועל הנפלאות שעשית לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה על ידי כהניך הקדושים…״ – נוסח הנרות הללו Was the revolt led by the Chashmona’im sanctioned by Halacha? To be sure, the mitzvah […]

The Oral laws (Halachot) of Chanuka. Everything you need to know           Part 1 Duration of class: 1:08:23     Part 2 Duration of class: 59:43     Part 3 Duration of class: 44:11            

“….It is a mitzvah to place the Chanukah lamp by the door of one’s house one the outside… in times of danger, one places it on the table and that is sufficient….” Talmud, Shabbat 21b ״תנו רבנן, נר חנוכה מצוה להניחה על פתח ביתו מבחוץ….ובשעת הסכנה מניחה על שולחנו ודיו….״ – מסכת שבת כא/ב It is rare for the Talmud to […]

Kindling the menorah was one of the many daily activities performed in the Beis Hamikdash. In the Chanukah story, however, it was specifically this avodah, service – and not a more central avodah, such as the daily offering of sacrifices upon the Altar – that was “singled out” for miraculous intervention to ensure that it could be done properly. This […]

  The Talmud outlines three tracks that one may follow in the observance of kindling the Chanukah lights, the choice depending on your eagerness to observe the mitzvos.  The base requirement is to kindle only one light per family on all eight nights, but the mehadrin, those who eagerly pursuemitzvos, kindle additional lights based on the size of their family. […]

The discovery of the one and only undefiled cruse of oil allowed for more than just a resumption of operations in the Beis Hamikdash on a bare minimum level. For by the simple standards of Jewish law, the Menorah may even be lit using oil that is ritually impure if no pure oil can be obtained (see Rambam, Temidin U’musafin […]

“……..To make them forget your torah and violate the decrees of your will…” (v’al hanissim) ״…להשכיחם תורתך ולהעבירם מחוקי רצונך..״ – נוסח ועל הנסים The goal of the Greek oppression of the Jewish people was, in the words of the V’al Hanissim prayer, “to make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will.” The Greeks were not opposed to Torah scholarship, […]

 If an oppressive government is trying to abolish one or all of the Mitzvot, one must choose death rather than transgress whichever Mitzvah they are attempting to abolish, (even if the transgression is not related to idolatry, adultery or murder.) This would explain, why in the era of Chanukah, the Jews needed to sacrifice their lives when forced to do […]