There is a Midrash that says that every blessing in the Shemoneh Esreh corresponds to a story in the Torah. The story that goes with V’al HaTzadikim is the story of Joseph. The Midrash says that when Jacob was about to go down to Egypt, he was scared. God said: “Don’t be scared,
The Theme of this paragraph of Hallel is Trusting God: See “Hallel Rosh Chodesh Tevet: Paragraph Three” “Trusters” and “Chanukah Hallel Paragraph Three: Becoming Trusters.” “Let all those who put their trust in You rejoice (Psalms 5:12),” because You took vengeance upon Babylon (Tenth of Tevet);...
“When the wicked Greek kingdom rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and compel them to stray from the statutes of Your Will.” The Greeks did not intend
“When the wicked Greek kingdom rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and compel them to stray from the statutes of Your Will.” Why did the Greek
“When the wicked Greek kingdom rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and compel them to stray from the statutes of Your Will.” When we speak of forgetting
Picture a woman who has just given birth. She has just experienced the intense high and joy of connecting to life, she has intimately connected to God in bringing life into the world.
When we speak about miracles, there is an aspect of the miracle that is miraculous, and there is another aspect, which is not. For instance, imagine that you are Elijah the Prophet
Expressions of Love: God gives us credit for our intentions and allows those intentions to work for us, even if we never manage to carry them out. David intended to build the Temple but was told by the prophet to stop. This psalm was composed as if he succeeded.
The Ramchal in Kitzur Kavanot explains that Chanukah is the Tikkun – fixing – of the verse, ““From on high He sent a fire into my bones, and it overcame them. He spread a net for