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When commemorating loss, we use the halachic system of aveilut, mourning. Fasting is not part of that system, yet when it comes to the four days associated with the loss of...

Besides the siege of Yerushalayim, two other events occurred in Tevet – the translation of the Torah into Greek and the death of Ezra HaSofer. Why do we fast for Ezra...

There is no break between Vayigash and Vayechi, Rashi describes it as a closed Parsha, because of the “closure” (emotional/spiritual) Bnei Yisrael felt when Yaakov died. Why describe the feeling as...

The Maharshal’s would buy a silver menorah every year and he would wait to use it until the second night of Chanukah. The explanation of the Pri Megadim plus the miracle...

The Gemara makes no mention of the military victory over the Syrian Greeks, it only mentions that they found one flask of oil and it lasted eight days. Al HaNisim only...

Pnei Yehoshua: Hashem only performs miracles when necessary. If so, why was there a need for the miracle of the oil – if there was only impure oil they could have...

After Shacharit, we say Tehillim 30. The header is מזמור שיר חנוכת הבית לדוד. What does the header (the inauguration of the Bet HaMikdash) have to do with the rest of...

The Bat Ayin (the Avritcher Rebbe) writes that the purpose of Chanukah is to fix the תוהו (the nothingness before creation) with light, similar to the אור of the first day...

In a society where candles were used for light (before electricity), how did one ensure that the candles used for Ner Chanukah are recognizable as being for a mitzvah  – especially...

Chanukah was instituted for Hallel and Hoda’ah. Hoda’ah refers to Al HaNisim. Why does the Gemara focus on the miracle of the oil whereas Al HaNisim omits it completely? How do...