DVAR TORAH Towards the middle of the "al hanisim" prayer, there is a lengthy series of contrasts used by our Chazal to illustrate G-d's salvation: "the many in the hands of the few, the mighty in the hands of the weak, the impure in the hands of the pure, the evil in the hands of the righteous, and the wanton in the hands of those dedicated to Torah." Why so many, and what is the difference between them?
According to the Rav, HaRav Joseph B. Soloveitchik, ztz"l, the reason is that this prayer in truth describes two enemies - the Seleucid Greeks, and then, in the last two phrases, the Hellenists, Jews who assimilated and adopted Greek culture.
As the Rav explained, in every aspect of life, there exist two dimensions, the "alma d'itkasya" [lit. "the hidden world"] and "alma d'itgalya" [lit. "the revealed world"]. By nature, human beings only see the "revealed," which in the case of Chanukah was the story of the war against the Greeks and the miracle of the oil.
But beneath the surface, in the "alma d'itkasya," the real battle of Chanukah was the battle between Jews, which Chazal kept in the realm of the "hidden" because it could easily be misunderstood and spoke so poorly of our people.
As the Rav explained, it is that hidden victory that is why Chanukah is an eternal holiday despite the later destruction of the Beit HaMikdash - which they had purified and the downfall of the Maccabees. Because never again have we suffered from such disastrous infighting of Jew against Jew.
All of this means that the lights of Chanukah celebrate not merely a military victory or even the miracle of oil but the peace created among our people. This message is especially poignant this year as we are in the midst of a war that was preceded by unimagined internal strife. May the unity of today and the unity of Chanukah continue to inspire our people as we draw closer to the day when the Beit HaMikdash will be rebuilt and dedicated once again!
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MAZAL TOV *to Zevi and Yonit David on the engagement of their daughter, Tzippy to Eitan Kornfeld. Mazal tov to grandparents, Elis and Dr. Jordan Pollack & Emina and Moshe David. *to Lance and Tema Taxer on the engagement of their son, Dovid, to Gabi Cohen. *to Rabbi Sam and Mimi Seleski on the recent Bar Mitzvah of their grandson, Yosef, son of Michael and Yael Zahtz. *to Josh and Michal Rosen on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Ayal
CONDOLENCES *to the family of Mr. Barry K. Freedman, z”l, husband of Ava Ehrlich, son of Julie Freedman, brother of Dr. Mark Freedman (Linda), Winifred Freedman (Scott Halan) and Leesa Goren z’l (Menachem) and father of Alexander Zev and Maxwell Samuel Freedman (Chelsea). The funeral was held in St. Louis. Julie and Mark are sitting Shiva at 7141 N. Kedzie, apt. 511 through Sunday morning, December 10th. Mincha/Maariv on Thursday - 4:05pm. Shacharit on Friday and Sunday - 7:00am
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Seudah Shlishit at KINS North is sponsored by Ruth Rotenberg and Glen Miller & family in commemoration on the yahrtzeit of Glen’s mother, Millie Miller z’l.
Parent Child Learning this week is sponsored by Avi and Chani Aaron.
DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – Mon.-Fri. after 6:25 Shacharit; Sunday - 6:45am PARSHA PERSPECTIVE – RECORDED Sunday-Friday
MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays
FROM THE DAYAN'S DESK - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays DAYTIME DIALOGUES: Wednesdays noon 30 MINUTES OF PARSHA - Wed. 8:00p/Shabbat 8:30a
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - Wednesdays 8:15pm
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - 3:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – 45 min. before Shabbat mincha
SEFER YESHAYAHU - will resume 12/31
BIRTHDAYS Yaakov Matanky (12/9) Ari Levenson (12/10) Dr. Michael Meer (12/10) Elyakum Levenson (12/11) Dr. Eli Jacobs (12/12) Meira Kahn (12/12) Mrs. Chani Isenberg (12/15) Lior Matanky (12/15)
ANNIVERSARIES Larry and Sheryl Merzel (12/12) Paul and Batia Bromberg (12/13) Howard and Shoshana Benditzson (12/15)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park Main: 2800 W. North Shore Ave & North: 3003 West Touhy • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - 8:00-9:00pm Mondays
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - 
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - 3:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – 
SEFER YESHAYAHU - will resume 12/31