Shabbat Hanukkah: O Ir Kleyne Lichtelech (A Torah study led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks on December 16, 2023) Hanukkah has inspired numerous poems over the centuries. I wanted us to look at one that seems especially resonant this year. Later, we will sing this in Yiddish, but due to time, let’s read it and unpack […]

Two Themes of the Hanukkah Story (D’var Torah delivered by Rabbi Sacks on December 15, 2023) Hanukkah offers the idea of miracles–their possibilities, their actualization, and basking in them. On Hanukkah, we focus on two miracles. One is the nes mil-chamah, the miraculous victory of the few over the many, and the weak over the […]

First Comes Courage Rabbi J.B. Sacks- Delivered Dec 1    ,2023  A Jewish proverb teaches, “When you have no choice, mobilize the spirit of courage.” Pretty much all Israelis and all of us Jews have had to at least try to mobilize our “spirit of courage” since the October 7 attacks against Israel and the […]

Hanukkah and Assimiliation: Ba-yamim Ha-em U-vaz’man Ha-ze (a discussion led by Maayan Lev on December 17, 2022) This week’s parashah is Vayeshev, which begins the story of Joseph. But on top of what’s happening in the Torah this Shabbat, it’s also Hanukkah tomorrow night. So what do these two narratives have in common? In both […]

Hanukkah and Parashat Mikketz 2021: The Importance of 2025 (delivered by Rabbi Sacks on December 3, 2021, the Shabbat of Hanukkah)   Our Sages made sure that this week’s portion Miketz is read during or in immediate proximity to Hanukkah. They did so because of larger truths. Here the Rabbis and the Masoretes, the people […]