Discover what others are learning
Curated Torah sources across every topic, from classical texts to contemporary responsa.
Hanukkah Menorah at the Doorway
Sources explore the placement and public visibility of the Hanukkah menorah at the doorway as a means of publicizing the miracle. Teachings range from legal specifications for placement to mystical interpretations of how the outward-facing light serves as testimony and spiritual illumination.
נֵר חֲנוּכָּה מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחָהּ עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ מִבַּחוּץ
The Mitteler Rebbe on Chanukah Light
Sources exploring the spiritual and metaphysical dimensions of Chanukah light, tracing how divine illumination reveals itself within darkness through both prophetic vision and Hasidic teaching on divine vitality and the soul's service.
לא בחיל ולא בכח כי אם ברוחי נאם ה׳
Kavvanah in Rabbinic Mitzvot: Ner Chanukah and Hallel
This collection examines the halakhic dispute over whether mitzvot derabanan (commandments enacted by the Sages)—particularly Hanukkah candle-lighting and Hallel recitation—require kavvanah (directed intention). Sources address how principles of intention established in the Talmud apply to rabbinic obligations, with commentary from Acharonim including the Sdei Chemed.
מצות אין צריכות כוונה
Chinuch and Hanukkah Candle Lighting
These sources address the halakhic status of children who have reached the age of chinuch (religious instruction) regarding their obligation to light Hanukkah candles, and clarify whether such children must fulfill this mitzvah individually or whether their participation is optional.
קטן שהגיע לחינוך צריך לה
Halachos and Minhagim of Chanukah Candle Lighting
These sources explore the halachic requirements and practices governing Chanukah candle lighting, including the timing of the mitzvah, proper placement of the menorah, and the purpose and validity of the candles according to classical rabbinic sources.
מצות הדלקתו משקיעת החמה עד שיכלה הרגל מן השוק
Chanukah: History, Halakha, and Spiritual Meaning
These sources explore Chanukah from multiple angles: the historical events of the Hasmonean victory and rededication of the Temple, the halakhic requirements for lighting candles, and deeper theological interpretations of the holiday's spiritual significance and symbolism.
מלכות בית חשמונאי ונצחום
Lighting Chanukah Candles After the Proper Time
Sources address whether one can fulfill the Chanukah lighting obligation and recite a blessing if the candles are lit after the designated time window—from sunset until the cessation of marketplace traffic. The sources establish the parameters of the obligation and the conditions under which a blessing may be recited.
עִם שְׁקִיעַת הַחַמָּה עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק
The Order of Lighting Chanukah Candles
Sources discuss the halakhic practice and mystical reasoning behind the directional sequence of lighting Chanukah candles, including whether one lights from right to left or left to right depending on placement and perspective.
יתחיל להדליק בליל ראשון בנר היותר ימיני
Sefas Emes on Chanukah and Pirsumei Nisa
The Sefas Emes explores the significance of revealing God's glory through the Chanukah miracle, connecting the miracle's purpose to the fulfillment of mitzvot, the proper gratitude for divine intervention, and the renewal of Israel's connection to the upper worlds.
פרסומי ניסא הוא דבר גדול
The Sefat Emet on Publicizing the Chanukah Miracle
The Sefat Emet develops the theme of pirsumei nisa (publicizing the miracle) across multiple teachings on Chanukah, exploring how the act of lighting candles and reciting praise serves not merely as commemoration but as a spiritual mechanism through which divine light is drawn into the world and perpetuated across generations.
פרסומי ניסא הוא דבר גדול
Sefas Emet on Publicizing the Chanukah Miracle
These passages from Sefas Emet develop the theme of pirsumei nisa (publicizing the miracle) in the context of Chanukah, exploring how the lighting of the candles serves to reveal divine sovereignty, strengthen faith, and commemorate Jewish redemption and return to serving God.
נר חנוכה מצוה להניחה על פתח ביתו מבחוץ
The Sefas Emes on Vayeshev and Chanukah's Hidden Light
The Sefas Emes draws a profound connection between the portion of Vayeshev and the festival of Chanukah, teaching that both speak to the preservation of an inner, inextinguishable point of holiness in darkness and spiritual exile. Joseph's maintenance of his faith and purity in Egypt parallels the Maccabees' discovery of the pure oil, illustrating how divine light endures even when hidden from perception.
נקודה פנימית שלא תוכל להכבות