Countdown to Chanukah 18

The Talmud (Menachot 85b) says: “Tekoah Alpha Lashemen” – Tekoah (the name of a place) is the alpha – the choicest place – to find the oil for the Temple service. We pay careful attention to names (Berachot 7b), so there must be an important lesson in the name, Tekoah.

“V’Yaakov taka et ohalo,” – “And Jacob pitched his tent.” (Genesis 31:25) Taka means to plant something in a permanent way, as Jacob did with his tent.

“Alpha,” means to learn, as in “Va’alefcha Chochma,” – “I will teach you wisdom.”  (Job 33:33)

The Talmud is teaching us that when we learn Torah – the illumination of Torah – and implant it in our heart, we can reach the choicest place in our Service of God.

Application:
Learn Torah while the Chanukah candles burn.
Choose topics that have immediate practical application to your life. It is not enough to study Halacha – laws of what to do – the learning must include the lessons and implications of the laws you study.