Hanukkah, a holiday commemorating the miracles surrounding the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE
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Just one b'racha on Chanuka lights?
There is a possible scenario in which one recites only the b'racha of she'Asa nisim on neros Chanuka without the b'racha of l'hadlik ner. Does the opposite scenario exist, in which one says only ...
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3answers
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Are chanukah menorahs lit from the left or the right?
There are different authorities that state the chanukah menora should be lit from the left or the right. Which is correct?
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3answers
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Why do we say the complete Hallel on Chanuka?
On Rosh Chodesh and after the first days of Pesach we say Chatzi Hallel. Why on Chanuka do we say Hallel Shaleim?
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1answer
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The Chanuka Miracle of the Oil and Tumah Hutra Btzibur
In the events of Chanukah, why did they need the miracle of the oil? After all, they did not need pure [Tahor] oil, as the Gemara says Tumah Hutrah beTzibur, meaning if everyone is Tumay then you can ...
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1answer
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Where did they light the Menorah after they won the war with the Greeks
In the Al Hanisim that we add on Chanukah we say:
V'hidliku neirot b'chatzrot kodshecha
Translated as
kindled lights in Your holy courts
It sounds as if the Menorah from the temple was lit outdoors ...
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1answer
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Half hour @ the Chanuka candles
Is the half hour that you are supposed to make sure the candles are lit Shaa Zemanios or exactly thirty minutes?
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Fish Tank Menorahs
There are people who light in a Fish Tank Menorah among then Reb Eliyashiv and Reb Kanievsky arguably the two most prominent Halachic authorities in the world.
There is an inherent problem in that ...
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Is there a way to make Shehechiyanu when lighting the second night of Chanuka? [closed]
How is it possible that someone lit the Menora on the first night of Chanuka, said Shehechiyanu, yet when he lights the Menora on the second night he would have to say Shehechiyanu again?
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How is the menora lit in the synagogue?
The menora in the synagogue is normally situated on the south side of the synagogue (O Ch 671 (7)).
On which side of the menora is it lit:
The person lighting faces south and the first candle is as ...
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3answers
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What is the meaning of the words כהיום הזה in the prayer על הניסים ?
What is the meaning of the words כהיום הזה in the prayer על הניסים ? Are there options other than the Artscroll interpretation, "unquestionable clarity"?
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1answer
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Bonim Talmidei Chachamim
The Gemara is Shabbos(Chuf gimel amud beis) says:
Haragil Bner Havin Lei Bonim Talmiday Chachamim
(very loosely translated) A person who is studious with the mitzvah of lighting will have children ...
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1answer
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Chanukiah location
What it the ideal place to put a chanukiah for lighting? Is it better to put it in the window, outside or inside? Does it depend on where you live?
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1answer
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Mitzvah of Ner Channukah — not until after churban habayis?
Someone said over today (in then name of the Sfes Emes) that the mitzvah of Ner Channukah didn't officially "start" until the 2nd Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, since it was established as somewhat of ...
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1answer
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Do you make a Shehechiyanu?
Suppose Chanuka started on Friday night. Everyone lights their Menorah prior to coming to Shul. When the person lights the Menora in Shul he already said Shehechiyanu in his house. Should he say it ...
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1answer
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When should a minor be the one lighting the Chanuka candles? [closed]
When should a minor L'Chatchila be the one lighting the Chanuka candles?
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1answer
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Early Mincha Erev Shabbos Chanuka
There are people that daven Mincha on Erev Shabbos Chanuka prior to lighting the Menorah and there are people that light first and then Daven Mincha. Those that Daven early do it in order to avoid ...
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0answers
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Should the Ten Tribes observe Chanuka and Purim?
Assuming we will, at some point, be reunited with some or all of the exiled Ten Tribes of Israel, will we expect them to celebrate holidays that are specifically Judaic in nature, by which I mean that ...
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0answers
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Rambam and Mitzvah of Ner Channukah (Chaviva hi ad ma'od)
The Rambam writes in Hilchos Channukah Perek 4 Halacha 12
מצות נר חנוכה מצוה חביבה היא עד מאד
The Mitzvah of Ner Channukah is very "chaviv"/"dear" mitzva (please correct this translation.) What ...
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1answer
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Celebrating the Hashmonaim as part of Hanukkah
The Hashmonaim are an integral part of the Hanukkah story.
BUT after the story of Hanukkah the Hashmonite family did some very terrible things (wars between Jews etc) during their reign.
Why do we ...
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0answers
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Are there mystical underpinnings to Maccabi?
One of the explanations I have heard for the title מכבי is that it is an acronym for the pasuk 'מִי-כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם ה (Shemos 15:11). Is there any reason, mystical or otherwise that that pasuk (or ...
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Calculation methods for intermediate time of chanukah lighting
We know that there are those who light chanukah candles at sunset and other at tzeis but there are some poskim lighting between at an intermediate time, for example :
Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav ...
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בימי מתתיהו בן יוחנן כהן גדול - who was the Kohain Gadol? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Bmei Matisyahu ben Yochnan Kohen Godol
בימי מתתיהו בן יוחנן כהן גדול - In the days of Matisyahu ben Yochanan Kohain Gadol
--"Al Hanisim" prayer said on Chanuka
Who ...
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1answer
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ChatzrOS Kodshecha
In Al Hanissim we say:
Vhidliku Neiros Bchatzros Kodshecha
Why in do we use the Plural form, was there more than one Chatzer?
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3answers
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Thanks for the wars
In Al Hannisim we say:
v'al hamilchamot she-asita la-avoteinu
Loosely translated:
And for the wars which you made for our Forefathers
Why are we thanking Hashem for wars?
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1answer
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Bircas HaMazon of Channukah after the last day
In OC Siman 695 Sif 3 that if one starts their Purim seudah by day and finishes by night they should still say "Al Hanisim" in Bircas HaMazon. The Machaber brings an opinion that says to not say it; ...
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1answer
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Maccabees and God's interaction
I looked over this answer Why isn't the book of the Maccabees part of the Jewish canon?, but I had further questions.
I understand why its non canonical, i think its easier to understand when an ...
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2answers
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She'asah nissim — why only past tense?
When we light the chanukiyah we say "she'asah nissim...b'yamim hahem bizman hazeh", with a past-tense "asah". While the miracles worked in the past (b'yamim hahem) are in the past (tautology alert!), ...
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1answer
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Gemarah Shabbos -Chanukah Connection
Why is the Sugyah (discussion) of Chanukah in the Gemarah Shabbos?
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2answers
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Rambam placement of Hilchos Megilla vaChanukah
Why does the Rambam in Mishneh Torah in the Sefer Zmanim place Hilchos Chanukah and Hilchos Purim together in Megillah vaChanukah instead of just placing them separately and why in the title is ...
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1answer
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Relighting Chanukah lights that extinguish
In light of this answer (no pun intended) which directs you to never pass your hand over a light without lighting it, what happens when the lights extinguish before you've lit fully.
There are ...
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1answer
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Origin of lighting the chanukiah [closed]
Why did people start to light oil lamps on chanukah?
How did the holiday come to be represented by lights? If in fact it was that the menorah was lit for eight days with oil, and that was considered ...
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2answers
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Women lighting Chanukah
Even thought Chanukah is one of the Yom Toivim where we say
"Af Hen Hayu B'oso Hanes" (women were included in the miracle)
women still do not light their own candles even according to the way of ...
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1answer
44 views
Why by the mitzvah of chanukka we must light at both doors so other wont be suspicious
The Halacha is:
That if one has more then one door at his house, he must light the menorah at all doors... The reason is because others might think that someone lives here but didn't light the ...
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1answer
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Using Havdallah Candle for Ner Channukah
The M"B in Siman 681 Sif-Katan 1 brings from the Bach and Ateres Zakanim that one may use the "Ner Channukah" first for Havdallah, put it out, then light it again for Channukah. This is even better ...
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1answer
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Rambam versus Ramban on Maccabees' taking the kingship from Yehuda
The Ramban (Nahmanides) in Parshas Vayachi says that the the Maccabees' children where killed out because they took the kingship from Shevet Yehuda. I was told (in the name of Reb Solovechick) the ...
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1answer
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“Ad shetichleh” or “ad shetikaleh”?
What is the correct ניקוד (and concomitant translation) of the word שתכלה in the phrase
עד שתכלה רגל מן השוק
?
Is it תִכְלֶה, which would be קל or תִכָּלֶה, which would be נפעל?
Does this ...
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1answer
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Motzei Shabbos Chanuka
You go away to your family / friends for Shabbos Chanuka. You are returning home Motzei Shabbos. Should you light Chanuka candles at your host or return home and light your Chanuka candles?
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2answers
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Special Halacha for first night of Chanuka [closed]
On the first night of Chanuka we make a Sh'echiyanu when we light the candle. What other special Halacha is connected with the first night of Chanuka?
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1answer
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Burden of proof for birkas “she'Asa nisim”?
The הלכה is brought down in Shulchan Aruch et al. that one who sees lit Chanuka lights and has not lit his own should say the ברכה of שעשה נסים לאבותנו. Could he say this ברכה on a נר that was lit ...
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0answers
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Rambam in Mitzvah of Ner Channukah: why “Shemen and Neros”?
The Rambam writes in Hilchos Channukah Perek 4 Halacha 12:
אפילו אין לו מה יאכל אלא מן הצדקה שואל או מוכר כסותו ולוקח שמן ונרות ומדליק
What is the reason the Rambam wrote to take "Shemen and ...
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Dreidel - Nun (Neis) Gimel (Gadol) Hei (Haya) Shin (Shom) - (Pei - Po)
Outside of Eretz Yisroel when we play Dreidel we use - the Nun for Nochamol (go again), the Gimel for Gantz (empty the bank), the Hei for Halb (half the bank), and the Shin for Shtel Arain (put money ...
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2answers
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Why don't we light the full menorah all 8 days?
If the reason we light candles on Chanukah is as a commemoration for the fact that the lights of the menorah burned for 8 days on fuel that was only sufficient for 1, why don't we light our menorahs ...
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Where's the eighth miracle? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Beis Yosef Question
Inspired by this question.
If the sealed jug of oil that they found had enough to light the Menorah for one day, then there were only seven ...
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1answer
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Sheasa Nisim ALL 8 nights? [closed]
Why do we say SheAsa Nisim all 8 nights? Shouldn't we only say it one night, the first?
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1answer
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“Why Hanukkah?” - revisited [closed]
The Talmud in Shabbos asks the famous question "Mai hanukkah" what is hanukkah?
I would like understand that question from a modern day perspective.
After all, the spiritual component of hanukkah is ...
