INSIGHT 5781 - #12: THE MOTIVATION OF RELIGION

 For  Chanukah

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INSIGHT 5780 - #12: PIRSUMEI NISA

For  Chanukah
 
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Insight 5779-11: THE TRUE BATTLE OF CHANUKAH

For Chanukah
 
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Specifically, in regard to both Yitzchak and Yaakov, we should mention that they both obviously recognized that there was a prima facie understanding that a prophecy should not simply be transmitted to another without being instructed to do so by God. On the other hand, this prima facie understanding of confidentiality must also be understood within the general principles of being allowed to assist another if deemed more proper. This further standard of the confidentiality of prophecy must then be understood as demanding more of an investigation of the reasons for disclosure. This must have been the issue before both Yitzchak and Yaakov. Upon this further reflection of the matter before each of them, each arrived at the conclusion each reached. This is not to say that they disagreed on the basic principles.

INSIGHT 5778-12: CHANGING PERSPECTIVE

For Mikeitz and Chanukah
 
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Insight 5777-14: YOSEF AND CHANUKAH

For Mikeitz and Chanukah
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Insight 5776-13: Shalom Bayit

For Chanukah

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Study Question

1) One argument for why Rambam is referring to all household lights and not just Shabbat cancles is that he only brings this law down in Hilchot Chanukah and not Hilchot Shabbat. A challenge to this, though, is that this law regarding kiddush is also only presented here and not in Hilchot Shabbat. This is even stranger in that this law that ner beito has priority over kiddush wine really has no connection to Chanukah. If Rambam does not mention this law in Hilchot Shabbat, it would seem that the argument in regard to ner beito is somewhat weakened.

Insight 5775-12: Uniting Worlds

For Mikeitz and Chanukah
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Study Question

1)

Insight 5773-13: The Lesson of the Nes Nigleh

For Miketz and Chanukah
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Study Questions

1) The Chassidishe story at the end of the Insight raises the question: How can one know, without direct input from God either through a nes nigleh or the response of a prophet, whether a difficulty that we encounter is a silent message that we should reconsider our action or a challenge that we are called upon to overcome?

2) This bothered me last week as well: why did Yosef not tell the brothers of the scorpions in the pit -- or did he try but they wouldn't listen to him?

Insight 5773-12: Ein Bo Mayim

For Vayeshev
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Study Questions

1) The issue of the perplexing nature of Yosef would seem to be even further highlighted through the thoughts presented in the Insight. Yosef was clearly a person for whom open miracles did occur yet his brothers, the equally righteous sons of Yaakov, saw him in an entirely different -- in fact, opposite -- light. This is the underlying question throughout this story. How could this be?

2) The issue or perception in regard to an open miracle is also a subject worth addressing. For a miracle to have an impact, it is not enough for it to have been performed but it is necessary for those witnessing this event to be able to perceive that it did occur. What would be this test, though, of perception?

Insight 5772-12: Freud's Illusion and Chanukah

For Chanukah

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Insight 5771-10: Know Thy Enemy

For Chanukah

Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Insight 5757-04: The Battle of Chanukah

For Chanukah.

Available on the Nishma website