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Parashat Miketz, Shabbat Chanukah, December 15, 2012, 2 Tevet, 5773

Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

 

1)         Midreshet News – Ariana Maeir and Emily Kaye

2)         Faculty Dvar Torah – Mrs. Malka Hubscher

3)         Mazal Tov

4)         Mi SheBerach

           

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Midreshet News

Ariana Maeir, Evanston, IL, Shana Alef

Emily Kaye, Flushing, NY, Shana Alef

 

It's Chanukah time at Midreshet! We kicked off our Chanukah celebration a few days early with our menorah making and drawing names for our mystery Maccabee. With our paint brushes and hot glue guns in hand we created beautiful menorahs.


On Sunday we left bright and early to head out to Nachalat Binyamin in the Binayamin region. Our first stop was the Psagot Winery where we watched two cool movies about the winery and the history of the land and played an interactive game filled with facts about Israel. The next stop was Migron, where we learned about the recent evacuation of its people, due to the conflict over possession of the land. Our third and final stop was a spring called Ein Mabua, where we enjoyed a barbecue lunch and we got to watch the natural phenomenon of the emptying and refilling of the spring.


After we returned to school some students headed off to a Chanukah party at Rav Teller's house. At the party, students enjoyed a lovely meal accompanied by stories and lessons connecting to Chanukah. The students were able to receive insight from both Rabbi Teller and, for the first time, also heard from Rebbitzen Teller. The night was topped off with delicious sufganiyot.


On Tuesday night we all went to our Rakezet's homes for a Chanukah party. Each Rakezet group enjoyed a dinner along with divrei Torah and played a few fun games. We even had sufganiyot (!) because what's a Chanukah party without sufganiyot??

 

Speaking of sufganiyot- Evyatar just brought in 90 assorted ones into the office this morning from 'English Cake'!!!!


This week Shana bet had a speaker come to speak about Gush Katif. On Tuesday night they went to Leora Bednarsh's house for a Chanukah celebration.

 

Tonight's the long awaited Chanukah Chagigah – but more about that next week!

 

 

Chanukah Same'ach.

 

 

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In the Spirit

Malka Hubscher

 

Sefer Maccabim (chapter 10) describes that after the defeat of the Greek army, the Maccabim celebrated a holiday of eight days mimicking the 8 day holiday of Sukkot.  They sang praises and thanks to Hashem while taking a lulav!

 

Why of all holidays did they model their celebration after the holiday of Sukkot? There are a number of possible explanations. Firstly, the Jews were fighting the Greeks for many months and the most recent holiday they missed while fighting was Sukkot. They 'made up' for missing Sukkot by integrating some aspects of Sukkot into their victory celebration. Another possible explanation is based on the fact that Shlomo HaMelech inaugurated the first Mikdash during the holiday of Sukkot. In this sense, the Maccabim purified and rededicated the Mikdash, thereby reenacting the original and most ideal mikdash dedication by celebrating a mock-Sukkot. 

 

There are other connections between Sukkot and Chanukah as well.  The Beit Hamikdash was illuminated with huge fire torches during the Simchat Beit HaShoeva, the grand parties in the Beit Hamikdash during Sukkot, which was reminiscent of Chanukah, the holiday of light.  Additionally, the famous opinion of Beit Shamai concerning the order of lighting the Chanukah candles is modeled after the korbanot of Sukkot; just as the 70 cow sacrifices on Sukkot are brought in descending order (13,12,11…) so should the candles be lit in descending order (8,7,6…).

 

Perhaps the source of this deep connection between Sukkot and Chanukah is really found in the very essence of these days. On Sukkot, we leave the comforts and trappings of our physical homes to dwell in simple huts immersing ourselves in the glory of G-d. We bask in spirituality without the distractions and luxuries of our homes. Similarly, the victory in the Chanukah story represents the triumph of spirituality over physicality. As we know, the battle against the Greeks at the time of the Maccabim was a spiritual battle. Greek philosophy idealizes human might, glorifies external beauty and celebrates the physical accomplishments of man. After winning the battle, the Hashmonaim attempted to imbue their celebration with the spirit of Sukkot. They wanted to focus on the Jewish ideals of inner beauty, spirituality and simplicity we celebrate on Sukkot.

 

Beit Shamai connects these two holidays as well.  The 70 cow sacrifices brought on Sukkot are in honor of the 70 nations of the world. Our temple is meant to be a light onto the nations, a universal place of monotheistic worship where every nation is represented. During the Greek period, this ideal was perverted. The Mikdash was turned into a pagan temple serving the Greek gods and a place where many Jews themselves engaged in idol worship.  Beit Shamai's opinion reminds us that the Maccabim successfully restored the Mikdash to its ideal state, a universal place of worship of Hashem which is symbolized in the 70 cows of Sukkot.

 

While Sukkot may be a distant memory during the wintery weather of Chanukah, it served as an inspiration to the Maccabim while celebrating their victory. On Chanukah, we are reminded to focus internally, to celebrate the flame of spirituality that burns within each one of us.

 

Shabbat Shalom and Chanukah Same'ach!

 

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Mazal Tov!               

Engagements

Michelle Siegel ('06-'07) and Eitan Nidam

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael       

Ayala Mocton ('09-'10) and Ben Cohen on their engagement.  

Mazal Tov to sisters Shoshi (Cohen) Ford '(06-'07) and Talia (Cohen) Kanter ('07-'08) and cousin Susie Cohen ('10-'11)

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael   

 

Mi SheBerach List

 

We have started a new list. Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add.  

 

Names added this week:

 

 Bluma bat Chaya

 

For complete 5772 list, please go to: http://midreshetmoriah.com/alumnae/?id=464

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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