The custom is to add one more candle each night. This is because the longer the oil in the Temple burned, the greater the miracle became. The Rabbis say, ‘one who does not increase, decreases’ (Ethics of the Fathers 1:13). Our relationship with Judaism should be something organic and growing. Each new candle introduces a … More A Thought for the Second Day of Chanukah

      The Chanukah menorah should ideally be placed in a window facing the street in order to publicise the miracle. These tiny flames flicker proudly and proclaim our Jewish identity to our families inside the home as well as to the world outside. These candles proclaim that am yisrael chai, the Jewish people … More A Thought for the First Night of Chanukah

We now begin what is in my opinion, the most dramatic story in the Torah. Yaakov favours Yosef, the son of his beloved deceased wife Rachel over all his other sons. Yosef himself becomes the object of scorn, derision and even attempted murder due to his illusions of grandeur, something his brothers simply cannot tolerate. … More Parshas Vayeishev – It’s all a question of perspective

To listen to a radical and controversial approach to this week’s parsha click here http://www.torahanytime.com/audio/parshas-vayeishev-its-not-in-our-hands/  

To watch the shiur click here http://www.torahanytime.com/video/hilchos-chanukah-in-ten-minutes/ To download the notes click here hilchoschanukah

י) אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה אָקוּט בְּדוֹר וָאֹמַר עַם תֹּעֵי לֵבָב הֵם וְהֵם לֹא יָדְעוּ דְרָכָי   Forty years I quarreled with a generation, and I said, “They are a people of erring hearts and they did not know My ways.”   The Radak explains that this is a reference to the tragedy of the spies, who … More The Longest Quarrel

ט) אֲשֶׁר נִסּוּנִי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם בְּחָנוּנִי גַּם רָאוּ פָעֳלִי: When your ancestors tested Me; they tried Me, even though they had seen My work.   Rav Hirsch explains that there is a difference between the words נסוני  and בחנוני, which are generally translated and ‘tested’ and ‘tried’. He claims that נסה  is ‘to put to the … More Tried and Tested

Ideas to think about when we light chanuka candles recite Haneros Halalu and Maoz Tzur To listen to the shiur click here http://www.torahanytime.com/audio/the-message-of-maoz-tzur/  

אַל תַּקְשׁוּ לְבַבְכֶם כִּמְרִיבָה כְּיוֹם מַסָּה בַּמִּדְבָּר: Do not harden your heart as [in] Merivah, as [on] the day of Massah in the desert. The Malbim interprets this pasuk as a continuation of the theme that he has been discussing, namely the unique nature of the Jewish people’s relationship with Hashem. The nations of the … More Sometimes it’s Better to be a Softie!

ח) אַל תַּקְשׁוּ לְבַבְכֶם כִּמְרִיבָה כְּיוֹם מַסָּה בַּמִּדְבָּר Do not harden your heart as [in] Merivah, as [on] the day of Massah in the desert. We now take a look at Jewish history and the lessons that can be learnt from it. As is well know there is no classical Hebrew word for history and … More Lessons from the Past