Ep. 475: How Does Chanukah Provide Us With Strength and Direction in These Trying Times?

Published: Dec. 15, 2023, 3:52 p.m.

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
How Chanukah provides us with strength and direction these trying times\xa0

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  • What lessons do the lights of Chanukah offer us?\xa0
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  • Why do we celebrate the war victory with lighting candles?\xa0
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  • What do we learn from the length of time which the Chanukah lights must burn \u2013 \u201cuntil the feet of the Tarmudoi have ceased\u201d?\xa0
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  • Is there a connection between the dreidel and Moshiach?\xa0
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  • Who was Antiochus and why did he have a problem with the Jews doing Torah and Mitzvos?\xa0
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  • What is the spiritual difference between Shammai and Hillel\u2019s opinion on how we light the Chanukah candles?\xa0
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  • Why don't we light two separate menorahs to cover Shammai and Hillel\u2019s opinions?\xa0
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  • Can we glean different military strategies from their opinions?\xa0
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  • If Zos Chanukah is the true essence of Chanukah being the brightest day, how do we reconcile that with Beis Shammai\u2019s opinion that we light only one candle on that day?\xa0
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  • Do our Biblical enemies, like Antiochus and Amelek, actually manifest today or are they more symbolic?\xa0
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  • How does the story of Joseph help us understand today\u2019s events?\xa0
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  • How can we counter all the confusion today?\xa0
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  • What can we do to deprogram and re-educate Muslim/Arab civilians?\xa0
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  • Can we trust the enemy?\xa0
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  • Do the prophets foretell current events?\xa0
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  • Should we be studying these prophecies?\xa0
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  • Which ones most vividly describe today\u2019s events?\xa0
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  • Was it in a form of prophecy, or were they wise men who could discern patterns and predict the future?\xa0
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  • Can we apply the prophesies in the Book of Daniel to our times?\xa0
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  • Is there anywhere in the Torah that says this war will be called operation iron swords?\xa0\xa0\xa0
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  • Can this war lead us directly to Moshiach? \xa0
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  • Is it possible that G-d will not allow Moshiach in our generation because we are involved in a war?\xa0
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  • If Moshiach comes today, will we still have murderous enemies? Will Hamas be brought to justice?\xa0
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  • Will Moshiach have supernatural powers to destroy our enemies?\xa0
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  • How do I respond to people who claim that Israel occupied Palestinian land?\xa0
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  • In addition to Rashi on the first verse in the Torah that G-d gave the Jewish people the land of Israel, why don\u2019t we also cite Rashi later that speaks about how Noach and Abraham apportioned the land to their children?\xa0
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  • Does the Torah document Abraham purchasing land in Israel to pre-empt others claim to the land?\xa0
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Empowering Torah Portions\xa0\xa0Dealing with the enemy\xa0Can you share details about your meeting with the Argentinian president?\xa0
How Does the Story End?\xa0\xa0
Who owns the Land of Israel?\xa0Conclusion: What is the message of the enduring flames of Chanukah?\xa0\n\n