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D'Var Torah

Shabbat Miketz-Rosh Chodesh Tevet-Chanukah!

12/27/2019

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"And there with us was a Hebrew youth."  The family was already called "the sons of Israel" (46:8), and subsequently they never called themselves by any other name; for this was their title of glory which Hashem had conferred upon them (32:29, 35:10).  The Torah never uses any other name for them, except when speaking of Israelites that were bonded into servitude: "When you will purchase a Hebrew slave" (Shmot 21:2) and similar instances where Eved Ivri is used to denote an Israelite slave (in contrast to an ordinary slave, the Eved Canaani).  But when non-Jews spoke, or when Israelites spoke to non-Jews, the word "Hebrew" (Ivri) was used.  The nations knew only of the wider classification Ivri which included "all the children of Ever" (10:21).  This name signified also their place of origin: "Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the River (MeEver Hanahar)...And I took your father Avraham from the other side of the River" (Joshua 24:2-3) where the word Ever signifies "the far side" of the Euphrates River. It was no honor for the Israelite to be called Ivri (Hebrew), and they never used any name other than Israel, which was intended by God as a title of supreme glory (32:29).  (R. Avigdor Miller).
​
Haftorat Chanukah:
The Maccabee story was actually the fourth Chanukah or dedication of the Temple. The haftorah describes the third Chanukah, that of Zerubavel.   The image of the Temple Menorah is the vehicle for the prophetic message that "Not by the might of arms, not by physical strength, but by My Spirit, said Hashem of the hosts of creation." The type of power that will bring about the salvation of Israel is with an inner strength which will be divinely inspired.  No intermediary will be necessary to bring about such a salvation. The ultimate redemption will come about not through our exercising a natural physical strength.  To choose this haftorah for Chanukah was to tell the Jewish people not to look upon the victory over the Greek-Syrians as a military victory that resulted from our strength and perseverance in the war; in order not be seen as a miracle and an act of divine deliverance, we had to see God's direction in the war and see it through the image of the Temple Menorah.
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    Rabbi David
    Grossman

    Rabbi David Grossman became the spiritual and religious leader of Temple Beth Sholom on July 1, 2019.  For the prior two years he was the Rabbi of Temple B'Nai Tikvah in Canton, the congregation resulting from the merger of Temple Beth Am of Randolph and Temple Beth Abraham of Canton.  Previously, he served the Temple Beth Am community, first as Cantor (8 years) and Rabbi (5 years).
    You can read more about Rabbi David in our About section.

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  • Schedule
  • RSVP
    • Shabbat Dinners
    • Trivia Night
    • Adult Ed: Tu B'Shevat Seder
  • Make a Contribution
    • Send A Card
    • Honor Roll
    • Tree of Life
    • High Holiday Appeal
  • About Us
    • Covid-19 Policy
    • D'Var Torah
    • Worship Information
    • Mi Shebeirach
    • Membership
    • History
    • Contact Us
    • Photos