Fwd: Mitzvot and Minhagim of Chanukah; The Case for Inclusivity in Shuls; Eating Before Kiddush?

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From: Shabbat Shalom <shabbatshalom@ounetwork.org>
Date: Thu, Dec 11, 2025, 5:04 PM
Subject: Mitzvot and Minhagim of Chanukah; The Case for Inclusivity in Shuls; Eating Before Kiddush?
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Plus: OU Women's Initiative Kislev Ideas & Inspiration PARSHAT VAYEISHEV December 12-13, 2025 / 23 Kislev 5786   THIS SHABBAT Mevarchim Hachodesh for the month of Tevet   SPECIAL DAYS Chanukah begins on Sunday night, December 14, and is celebrated through Monday, December 22.   Rosh Chodesh Tevet is celebrated on Shabbat, December 20, and Sunday, December 21.  FEATURED The Mitzvot and Minhagim of Chanukah Did you ever wonder why we light the menorah, spin dreidels, and eat donuts on Chanukah? Join OU Director of Halacha Initiatives Rabbi Ezra Sarna as he explores the deeper meaning behind the mitzvot and minhagim of Chanukah. Watch Now  AROUND THE OU Kol Echad The Case for Inclusivity in Shuls Following the example of Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt"l, Rabbi Ya'akov Trump of Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst offers practical and meaningful ways for communities to create a more welcoming shul environment. Read More OU Women's Initiative Kislev Ideas & Inspiration Join the OU Women's Initiative for a variety of uplifting programs in honor of Kislev and Chanukah, including Hearing Hashem in the Quiet with Michal Horowitz, and Magnificent Menorahs: Behind the Scenes at the Auction House with Abigail H. Meyer. Register Now OU-JLIC Meet the Woman Behind JLIC's All-Star Campus Directors JLIC Chief Operating Officer Tal Attia identifies emerging Jewish leaders and helps place them on the college campuses that need them most. In this episode of the Torat JLIC podcast, Tal shares her journey to becoming a JLIC leader, what makes a great JLIC director, how JLIC empowers women in Orthodox Jewish leadership, and more. Listen on Podbean Jewish Action What's the Truth About... Joseph's "Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"? Was the ketonet pasim that Yaakov Avinu gave Yosef truly an "amazing technicolor dreamcoat," as suggested by the Broadway musical? Read More  UPCOMING EVENTS SPIRIT Let's Get Organized: Downsizing Mondays at 11 am EST, starting February 2 Register Now OU Women's Initiative Save the Date: Torat Imecha Nach Yomi Third Cycle Siyum Sunday, February 15, in Woodmere, NY, and Tuesday, February 18, in Jerusalem    TORAH Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt"l Chanukah From the archives: This article, published on December 7, 2023, was written a few days after Rabbi Hauer, zt"l, testified to Congress on the state of antisemitism on college campuses. Here he demonstrates the root of higher education's failure using the story of Chanukah. Read More L'Kadsho Eating Before Kiddush on Shabbos Morning What can be eaten before davening? Can you eat after Shacharis but before Musaf? And are the rules for women any different? Rabbi Akiva Willig explains! Plus… Rav Doniel Schreiber on accepting early Shabbos, and more! Eating Before Kiddush on Shabbos Morning – Learn Now More on L'Kadsho Rabbi Menachem Genack Who Tells the Story? The Midrash tells us that although Reuven saved Yosef from his brothers, had he known that the Torah would record his actions, he would have acted differently. What does this mean, and what implication does it have for our own actions? Read in Hebrew Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman Listening Between the Questions Why does Amos choose to address Bnei Yisrael with questions rather than statements? In this week's haftarah, the navi doesn't open with accusation or warning. Instead, he presents a cascade of rhetorical questions — each one too obvious to answer, yet impossible to ignore. Read More Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, zt"l Half the Chanukah Story The two halves of the miracle of Chanukah — the nes milhamah and nes shemen — both signify, and are connected to, integral parts of Judaism. Read More All Torah You Can't Grow Without Struggle Rabbi Shlomo Farhi shares that real growth doesn't come from comfort. It comes from challenge, effort, and pushing through the difficult moments. Watch This Week's Featured Clip Join the All Torah Clips WhatsApp Community Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, zt"l Refusing Comfort, Keeping Hope When Jacob thought that Joseph had died, he refused to be comforted and said that he would go to the grave mourning. But there are laws in Judaism about the limits of grief; there is no such thing as a bereavement for which grief is endless. Why did Jacob refuse to be comforted? Read More Rabbi Jack Abramowitz Is Protesting Permitted in Jewish Law? Real reader Q&As are back! This week: If something is unjust, are we allowed to protest? Are we obligated to protest? Read More Rabbi Aschi Dick Life After Death: Brain Death and Organ Donation in Halacha Does life end when the brain dies or when the heart stops? The answer has important halachic ramifications. Watch Now Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb No Favorites on Chanukah! Envy is one of the most insidious of human emotions. It is deeply self-destructive, damages our relationships with others, and can have disastrous social consequences. Read More Halacha Yomis Eating Chocolate Chanukah Coins on Shabbos? Chocolate Chanukah coins are engraved with words and pictures. Is there any issue with eating them on Shabbos? May one crack off pieces and eat them or is destroying the words and pictures considered erasing? Read More  THIS WEEK ON SOCIAL Orthodox Union