RAV KOOK ON PARSHAS MIKETZ PART 2

Translated and abridged by Rabbi Chanan Morrison Parshat Miketz The strife among Jacob's sons centered on conflicting viewpoints regarding the sanctity of the Jewish people. Judah felt that we must act according to the current reality. Given the present situation, the Jewish people need to maintain a separate existence to safeguard their unique heritage. Joseph, on the other hand, believed that we should concentrate on the final goal. We need to take into account the hidden potential of the future era, when "nations will walk at your light" (Isaiah 60:3). Thus, even nowadays we are responsible for the spiritual elevation of all peoples. So, which outlook was correct — Judah's pragmatic nationalism or Joseph's visionary universalism?

RAV KOOK ON PARSHAS MIKETZ PART 1

translated and abridged by Rabbi Chanan Morrison Parshat Miketz The Sages made a remarkable claim regarding dreams and their interpretation: "Dreams are fulfilled according to the interpretation" (Berachot 55b). The interpreter has a key function in the realization of a dream. His analysis can determine how the dream will come to pass! The Talmud substantiated this statement with the words of the chief wine-butler: "Just as he interpreted, so (my dream) came to be" (Gen. 41:13). Do dreams foretell the future? Does the interpreter really have the power to determine the meaning of a dream, and alter the future accordingly?

RAV KOOK ON CHANUKA RICHNESS OF SPIRIT

The holiday of Chanukah raises a number of questions: Why do we celebrate Chanukah for eight days? After all, there was enough oil to burn for one day, so the miracle was really only for seven days. Since the holiday commemorates the miracle of the oil, we should celebrate for only seven days. The minimum requirement is for each family to light one candle each night. It is customary, however, is to light with two hidurim (embellishments): every member of the family lights, and the number of candles corresponds to the day of Chanukah. Why do we perform these two hidurim ? The Talmud in Menachot 28b relates that the Maccabees were unable to obtain a solid gold Menorah for the Temple as the Torah specifies. Lacking the means for such an expensive Menorah, they constructed a simple one out of iron rods plated with tin. Why was there a miracle for the oil but none for the Menorah itself?

RABBI SHALOM ARUSH THE BRIGHTEST CANDLE(Translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody)

A person might be alive, but he could very likely lack the spirit of life. Any deficiency he feels in life stems from this lack of “spirit of life”. There's only one place to obtain a true spirit of life – from the tzaddik, the righteous and pious spiritual leader of the generation. Who is this tzaddik? First of all, he has completely overcome all bodily appetites and urges. Evil has no control of him for he has completely overcome evil as well. The true tzaddik is totally separated from evil. Anyone can become a true tzaddik by way of prayer and Torah. Who is an evil person?

RABBI LAZER BRODY HELLESNISIM NOTHING NEW

As far as the Jews in the Land of Israel were concerned, Alexander the Great was a benevolent ruler. He was not a pagan and he had tremendous regard for the Jewish sages, particularly Simon the Just, the High Priest at the time (see tractate Yoma, 69a). Neither persecuting them nor making life miserable for them, Alexander made an arrangement with the Jews: as long as they remained loyal to him, all they had to do was to pay their taxes and they'd be allowed to remain autonomous. This was unheard of, definitely a stroke of Divine will, because Alexander was rarely merciful to any nation that he subdued, which meant almost the whole known world at the time. The Jews were so grateful to him that they named every child born that year “Alexander.” That is why the name Alexander (Sender in Yiddish or Sasha in Russian are common Jewish nicknames derived from Alexander) became so common among Jews to this day.

Nachum Segal Hosts the Stars of HASC XXVI, Mordechai Ben David and Avraham Fried

With HASC XXVI looming large on the horizon, Nachum welcomed the stars of the show, two of the biggest names in Jewish music history, and present, Avraham Fried and Mordechai Ben David to this morning's JM in the AM. Nachum and his special guests discussed the great work of HASC, and their anticipation of sharing the stage together for this important cause. Nachum also asked Mordechai to discuss the latest news from the Sea Gate community in Brooklyn, NY as they continue to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. This year's show, coming up on Sunday, January 13 at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center kicks off the next 25 years of musical celebrations to support the work of HASC. Click the link to listen.

JI AND JMR [Official Music Video] ”All You Got” by 8th Day

The group 8th Day which has been taking over Jewish music fans worldwide in the last two years has just released a new dynamic new music video. The video is for the title track of their latest masterpiece “All You Got” released this past June. The video features an incredible blend of animation with live action music video.