Modern Masters: Sod Hasivivon: A New Spin on Chanukah By Rabbi Sam Shor

this afternoon is dedicated Shalom that's my aunt Aviva whose yard set is is commemorated today and I also like to dedicate this year in the of for A liba and B susara Bama who are both recovering from surgeries and they should have Ru Shala the past couple weeks we've been focusing in this session of Modern Masters specifically about khaka and we're gonna be continuing to discuss khaka this this afternoon as well and today I want to begin with a short passage that's not on your sheets actually from SE to se to is a very very important 20th century work on Jewish practice authored by alov ritov who was born in Poland in 1912 came on Alat 1938 he his his birth name was Abraham eliahu makot which became hebra azed to to kov and he becomes when he makes Aliah becomes obviously involved in education becomes a very prolific author and teacher um his father was a very close the Great masterin and S continues to influence his his worldview and his Hasa and his and his writings so we're gonna we're just gonna learn from us a a small passage from SE to which is a very very important work that RAB have authored which deals with um the Jewish calendar and the practices and MIM of the Jewish people and there he writes regarding Kaneka something very interesting and it's an idea we actually introduced the past couple weeks but he says it in such a very clear and profound way should be made that the practice in so many communities amongst the Jewish people is that these days of khaka were specifically used to emphasize and place great attention to the to how we educate our children because the word we discussed last week okay comes from the word which means to to to learn and prepare and to ready ourselves okay and therefore and the most important principle is what is prepare our children to learn Torah and to teach our children Torah okay now he doesn't stop there and then he continues and this is where we're gonna get into our topic for today he says the practice or the custom the widespread tradition that many many children on kanuka play with C with the dro he says this is also related to this idea of kanuka as a time of of teaching of education and preparing our children okay and why because even now when our children are playing okay when they play with that drle they're being reminded what not to forget the miraculous events that Hashem has done for our ancestors and continues to do for each one of us and we know that inscribed on each of the dral are the four letters either says and Order what that we this idea that this that KHAK is a time where recall and our appreciation for miraculous events that this should not leave the attention should not leave the focus of our children even when they're playing and that's where the game of playing with the Dr comes in it's not that many of us know the story that supposedly that it was meant that during the times of the decrees that the Greeks made against teaching Torah that this is a way for us to for for the Miland Torah to go out into the woods and and play have a play what seems like a play group when really they're teaching Torah but says says rabito no that there's a deeper reason there's a reason why it became such a widespread practice today and that is that what that Kaneka is all about and we want to maximize every opportunity there is to teach our children about the miraculous events that hasem has done for the Jewish people throughout our history and therefore even when they're and often Kaneka kids are off from school at least part of the time that even when they're having fun and playing we remind them what don't forget what this day is all about it's all about remembering the Miracles that Hashem has provided so that's a beautiful idea however as we're going to see together and over the next few moments this afternoon the Masters suggest that the drle and this practice of of playing drle is not simple Child's Play but rather if you want to say encrypted within this this game is deep deep significance spiritual significance and we're going to learn from a number ofic Masters together today this afternoon to help us unpack the hidden messages the secrets of the drum so now we're going to start on our sheets we're going to start with the first text alive you need a you need the sour here you go you're welcome you have one okay so we start with the first text okay text Al on sheets so he says we know that there's a very long and well established Min what to play with a dral small little onah that has engraved on its sides the letters that stand for the words A great miracle happened there in order what to publicize the miracle so we're learning from text Al we're learning from the vision of rebi the dtic elezar who came on Aliyah 1944 um he was born in 1891 came in Aliyah from Poland 194 44 and lived in t Aviv for the last two years of his life he passed away in 1946 so the domestic elazar tells us what we're already familiar with that there's a longstanding tradition Jewish tradition to play with a with with a Dro a small little Dro that has engraved on it the letters for as a repres a manifestation of the idea of publicizing the Miracles of Kaneka what's that don't and this idea is puzzling says the rebi listen to what the domestic says wouldn't it make more sense if the if the idea of playing with the drle and Engraving the drle with those letters is what to remind us and publicize the miracle wouldn't it make more sense to what to write those words on a big billboard somewhere where everyone can see them what what is this business of of Engraving them on a small little toy so listen what he says El but rather we learn through the fact that we don't do that but rather we do it on the drle what do we learn we learn obviously what that it must be preferred that it's inscribed that those letters in that message is inscribed on a small little drle a little toy rather than put them on a very big billboard why listen to his words are to remind us that just as the dro spins around okay and we never know how it's going to fall how long it's going to spin for just as that dral spins around and it it seems random to us ultimately Hashem knows when that drle is gonna stop spinning and what letter it's going to fall on so too okay so too the drle reminds us that when we when when things are moving in the world what that's when there's the opportunities to experience miracles okay not to lay stand on our Laurels not to stay you know stuck in the status quo not to just put up a a statement on a sign that's that that doesn't move and that's stat that that's the status quo but rather rather be reminded what that the world is an active place and that Miracles are coming down into the world constantly we just have to be open to see it and that's what the drle the spinning reminds us the spinning reminds us why what that the don't get stuck in the status quo a Jew never is satisfied with the status quo we're constantly spinning and moving forward and in so doing we're able to recognize and hopefully experience the Miracles that Hashem is bringing down to this world every single moment so that's a beautiful idea from the deas alaz yeah we have the K right so that's the D elaz RAB is gonna RAB bre who everyone here I'm sure has heard of RAB bre actually um has a very different bent on this and RAB says that the dro is meant to teach us a very fundamental concept related to khaka so let's take a look at reab Nan's words this is text number bets on our sheets what is the idea that's represented when we play with the Dr what is KH meant to remind us and what is KH really all about the B of mikash and the cality the B of mikdash in Jewish life okay and therefore you know we can get caught up in the donuts we can get caught up in the lockas we caught up in the the miracle of the Shem But ultimately ultimately is about the mikdash just as a side note I know we're talking about the Dr but um so he writes that one of the reasons why we have the custom to eat donuts on kanuka most of associated with the and the Miracle of the oil just like we eat lacus those of us that ate lacus before we came in Aliah that that we eat we eat donuts so no or says no it's actually a deeper meaning behind the donuts what's the deeper meaning that what is a donut a donut is essentially it's flour and oil okay which were the primary components of the carbon Min carbon Min was the the the carbon that was offered in the late afternoon okay in the B mikdash okay and when the the the time when what when the manora would have been kindled daily by the kohanim but what happened the b mikdash in the story of the what happened they they were able to come in and they were able to find that that little bit Cruise of oil and they were able to light the manur and everyone knows that we recall that miracle and the and the importance of the manur through lighting our candles but if you look closely at the story it took them a year took the a year until they were able to what rededicate the M where the various carbonos were able to be offer okay the M had to be constructed in a very specific way it took them a year till they had a and therefore forces we eat donuts which represent the carbon okay okay to remind us what that it's not just we don't just celebrate KH that we were able to light the manur but what we don't lose side the end of the story okay which is the rededication of the M which allowed us to offer once again those those D the the carbon the carbon all those which was represented by the donuts but then he takes the step further and he says what when you eat a donut unlike AAA Thea is is B okay the on on a donut is and what's different what's the difference about and and and even and even that in addition to recalling as part of the we also says say the words okay that we recall the and theik not just but specifically the m and the and therefore when we eat donuts on okay we're reminded not only of the fact of the carbon and the fact of the M we weren't able to offer those carbon M but we're reminded the centrality of the mikdash the whole story and the centrality of offering carbos and therefore we eat that donut we're able to say that braa okay which reminds us of the centrality both the B mikdash and okay so now back to what so Rab in this first sentence that's all that's all a tangent from this first line from RAB sorry first says that that is all about the scare the L and he says the essential idea of building the is a Content that he says we described before meaning in his other writings of a spinning wheel now he's gonna explain this right a drle spins around like a spinning wheel right listen to this beautiful idea says in theik what what happened todash it was a blending together of Worlds you had the upper Worlds the heavens so to speak descended and blended with what was going on down here on Earth and the lower world the Earthly realm there was an Ascension we we're a blending together Between Heaven and Earth because intellectually this is a very very very difficult concept for us to grasp that has no physical form that's beyond larger than any physical capacity that he could contract himself so to speak so his presence could be present within the vessels of the bikash because we know that hashem's presence did rest in the and the other thing that's beyond human intellectual comprehension is what that a human being that is a a a small a a very tiny creature in comparison to the greatness of that a simple human being a humble human being could what could have an impact on what's decided in the heavens that's also beyond our comprehension okay or that a a small animal okay that an animal would become something that would be that we would offer as a Corban would become something that would be pleasing to all these things are beyond our human comprehension right reveals to us what the opposite of our human intuition and and nature because has did place his presence down here on Earth in both the Mish and the and the that we offered in the B of mdash went up and they were pleasing to this is this idea of the blending together the heavens and the Earth the idea of the spinning wheel this is what the drel represents says RAB okay so the trle just the sum of reab the Dr represents what the blending together of Heaven and Earth okay the blending of perspectives and this idea is built on even further in the next piece okay RAB RAB shim Rosenberg Rosen known as ragar shagar was a great and um philosopher and thinker Theologian uh and and the 20th century died in the beginning of the 21st century he was at one point one of the Riva inael and the The Old City he also found was one amongst the founders of the Yesa hasel inel he also founded his own Yesa which continues to exist in inat and raar is gonna actually take this idea from r a step further and he's going to point to the words of the balat the first re of kabad okay shim Rosenberg okay we're gonna return once again to the words of the b in his Heaven and Earth spirituality and physicality [Music] everything is equal in one in the eyes of Hashem the the one who equalizes all everything that exists everything that's large everything that is small okay listen to what what does with this line from the balat he says the bikash is all about what opposites represents opposites what does that mean it's a place that revealed the lack of different the true lack of differentiation between that which is physical and that which is spiritual that there's really no difference a human being and a Mal and an angel between Earth and Heaven okay if there are differences okay in existence within existence it's from our human perspective they come as a result of what of our reality that we live through here in this realm but from the universal perspective meaning from whose perspective From hashem's perspective right so from the the Divine perspective there's no real separation and this is what we learn this is what's represented and that we learn through playing with the Dr on the Dr spins around and around and around and sometimes it lands on one side and sometimes it lands on another side the reality is that no matter which side it lands on it's still the same drle the great Oneness the Dr represents the great Oneness and reminds us that even though we as human beings don't in the capacity to see the entire picture it it reminds us and teaches us what to take a step back and acknowledge that things are not exactly as we see them based on our own limited human perspective if we can just take a step back and embrace this concept that there's something bigger beyond our comprehension my great teacher Rabbi David Aaron he used a beautiful Marshall to to kind of teach this concept if someone goes into an art museum okay you walk in the art museum and you see this beautiful canvas on the wall and you take a look at this canvas from a distance where you can see the whole canvas and it's gorgeous and it's a masterpiece and everyone agrees it's a masterpiece but if a person wants to walk closer to that canvas tap tapestry and put your face literally against that tapestry what would you see you'd see a bunch of random squiggly lines okay and a bunch of ugly blotches of paints that make no sense okay because it's right in front of our face it's only when we take a step back and we begin to slowly take in the entire picture and see the whole tapestry that we realize wow this is a masterpiece that which looks ugly and and and confusing is really a masterpiece and that's such a mus for us okay we we look at the world from our limited human perspective and we see what we see the ugliness we see the confusion we feel we experience it we have to take a step back and see the big picture and recognize that From hashem's perspective it's all one and that says shagar based on this beautiful teaching from the balat is also one of the messages Were Meant to glean and learn from the spinning around of the drle okay we're now going to review uh an idea that we touched on in last last week's year and this is a short teaching or a couple short teachings from one of the first generation of okay and the is actually going to quote the here in this piece as well who's the if he's the student of the B he's talking about the B says the idea why do we write why do we engrave on the drle those four letters and shin again there's no P here right shin okay the B taught us he says that those letters are meant to what remind us of all the mitz associated with what are the mitz there are two Mitzvah associated with KH that is what lighting the candles and reciting Hollow thein the letter letter refer to what there are eight candles that we light the letters he gim teach us what that we recite the whole throughout the entire ire eight days of he continued to say in the name of the we know that we have this that the the minhagim of the Jewish people are considered sacred like the Torah and if there's 70 perspectives to understanding the Torah says says that he learned from the B that must mean what that there are 70 ways to analyze and explain every single Min every single custom of the Jewish people as well and therefore and he says and therefore I came to understand a example of this okay that all we learn from the B that all the okay that come into existence they come from the realm of mashiah meaning every miraculous event that happens to the Jewish people okay is are contributing to what to Bringing mashia closer okay or sh and so to if we're celebrating a miracle that means that what the KH is somehow bringing us close with the mashia is meant to remind us about this idea of longing for mashia as we discussed last week okay and that's why the these four letter letters Nim shin and he okay are in are the ones that are that are um inscribed on on the DR why because and gim and shin add up to equal gatria to mashia okay do the math okay is what is five plus three right so you have a hey and a gimel is the right what's what's me me is is is what how much is me what right you can do m is you can do the math okay that the the that the is equal to the shin is is in both of them right both M and here and it's and it's equal anyways says in the name of that the the dral contains encrypted those letters remind us of three different messages number two different messages number one the two Mitzvah associated with Kana of the N the eight candles the eight days of candles and and Hal gor the complete Hollow and also this idea of mashia and it's very interesting there a story this text number hey on our sheet is a story that's told of the beler rebbi it it's reported that when RAB roak the B rebbi moved to Israel there were no dros available with the letters nimin because in Israel it is to use a p instead of the shin for the word po right he s the shamash to search for a Dr with a shin and commented that one should not change the letter to pay presumably this is due to the gatria connection to so seemly the D another message that seems to be consistent amongst numerous cic Masters is that the dral is meant to remind us that Kaneka and the Miracles khah are meant to be bringing us closer to the light of mashia so I want to just learn one last text together to bring all this together and this is a beautiful beautiful um teaching or a couple of teachings um from the of rovic is one of the great alive today he lives in he lives in the um y I think it's called y mosha neighborhood of of which is right near G in and listen to what neighborhood thank you of G and listen to what he says about the Dr this is this I think that this opening sentence in particular is very relevant for us today what's his again ra gam rabinovich look what he says in this opening sense because it's particularly relevant for us today Tor okay we know that I want to explain to you the reason for this that's as sacred as the Torah and listen what he listen to what he says here in parentheses says in all times of war and difficulties for the Jewish people that throughout Generations have asked and requested to do this practice do this custom with great fervor religious fervor what's the custom he's talking about to play on the days OFA to spin the top so it's not child's play says G one of the greatest in live today he says that throughout our history in the most difficult moments in Wartime and all the difficult moments the Jewish people have fa that sadik of every era have have encouraged us to play with the Dr with religious fervor and enthusiasm to play during the days of because what does it do when we do that it's meant to remind us that there's something above us and that there's an ultimate judge that will bring Salvation to the the Jewish people okay can't stand on its own can only stand up and begin to spin if what if it's being held up and spun around from above wow says of G the Dr reminds us that even when we feel downtrodden even when we feel we're in the lowest space we could possibly be when we spin that Dr we're reminded that what that Hashem is there and Hashem will pick us up Hashem will spin us and move us forward Propel us forward will bring us salvation it's Hashem who's kind of steering our lives he says it's Hashem who steers our lives and Spins us forward with great compassion and love and now he's gonna bring a teaching from is another great um teacher in the world today he comes he's descend descended and connected to theic dynasty of L and he is a very very charismatic and popular teacher in theic world today and rid he says explains this idea of the Dr as follows just as every single one of us understands so doesn't M we all know the the reality is it doesn't matter how hard we spin the drle whether we SP spin it gently and softly or whether we spin it with great great power ultimately the Dr is going to fall on the side that's determined by Hashem above us Hashem knows exactly how that Dro is gonna fall and which side the drle is gonna come up on and he says so to so to all aspects of Our Lives says b whether it be in terms of whe Marriage Partners whether it's in terms of of livelihood whether it's in term of Health okay in every realm and aspect of Our Lives yes it's true we have to what put in some minimal effort and make ourselves a CLE a vessel to receive the bless from above but the reality is what ultimately doesn't matter how many times we spin ourselves around how hard we try as long as we make some effort ultimately what's the what's the message the reality is that we're always left with only that which is has already been decreed from above says now now now the closing words of Ra's words okay and closes with these beautiful words may we Merit to experience the Miracles just as Hashem brought miracles for ancestors in their days may we also Merit to see those miracles in our days so my friends from what we learn from all these beautiful ideas is that the drle is not simply Child's Play the dro represents powerful imagery in terms of and reminds us of many many fundamental ideas Associated abouta as well as well as with Jewish life in general and therefore I encourage all of us if we take R gamel's message at the end at the beginning of his teaching that during times of difficulty and War throughout Jewish history that sadik have encouraged us to play Dro with great fervor so I can tell you that ra gam every year my brother-in-law who's a videographer he's invited every year there's a gel that records one night of the lighting kanuka candles by R gel's house and every year my brother-in-law goes he never works because I always have an event I always want to go with him but um but he did bring me a a dime once from the Kaneka guilt that he that Ram G gives out it's an American dime I have it it's like saved anyways so he every year when he when he when he lights the candles people sit around afterwards and he takes out like a dozen silver and gold drel and he sits with Incredible cavana can send you a video of it actually because I have it incredible cavana spins the drals and spin another dral spins and he's like clap incredible kavana because of this message that the Dr represents what a some kind of Shir or Yeshua even in the most difficult moments so let's let's I bless us all let's play with our drel this khaka let's bring the Yeshua that we need for CLA and um let's be let's be blessed to experience Miracles by not only recall the Miracles from that occurred for the Kash let's be blessed to experience miracles in our day in the days of