CHABAD.ORG MAGAZINE: Do-It-Yourself Menorah, Why Is Jewishness Matrilineal? (and more...)

B"H


Kislev 17, 5772 * December 13, 2011

======================================================================
CHABAD.ORG NEWSLETTER

* Daily Quote * Daily Thought * Comment * Question * Story * Voices *
* Essay * Parshah Summary & Overview * From The Chassidic Masters *

Web: http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=65B2DFE86B8B574322B242ED1D156042&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2
Feedback: http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=2711EE6592C989135DC2E2DCFCB0F912&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2
Print version: http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=922C8301BAFB074D4A50B1D05A866DC2&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2
======================================================================

Editor's Note:

If you were like me, you may have dreamt of being a Maccabee as a kid. But who were the Maccabees?

You know the story; they tried to kill us, we won, let's eat. Sound familiar? Well, actually the Greeks weren't out to kill us (as long as we behaved). In fact, they liked Jewish scholarship and culture. Jewish studies would have been featured prominently right next to the departments of mathematics and linguistics in their universities.

They just had one problem. "What's with this G‑d business?" they asked. "This is the age of enlightenment! Don't go out on a limb to follow traditions you cannot understand. Serve yourself, not G‑d. Be a Jew, but be a rational Jew." So they forbade learning about G‑d and His commandments.

Only a small band of Jews had the courage to stand up against the mighty Greeks. They said, "We serve G‑d. We are Jews, and our belief in Him is unshakable. Judaism does not change with the soupe du jour!"

That is a Maccabee!

The proof of their victory is that we're still here, and the ancient Greeks are long gone. But their ideology lives on, only in a different disguise. It's that Hellenist inside us that says, "Just be like everyone else. Don't do mitzvahs if they inconvenience you or make you stick out. Just do what your neighbors do."

This Chanukah, don't follow the crowd. Light the menorah with passion and pride for all to see!

Be a Maccabee.

Happy Chanukah!



======================================================================

THIS WEEK'S FEATURES:

WEEKLY FOCUS

Why Is Jewishness Matrilineal? (By Malkie Janowski)

Why doesn't the father's Jewishness count?

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=72944F59AF946B9AE3390F50A6E98C7F&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Was Jewishness Always Matrilineal? (By Tzvi Freeman)


How could Moses marry the daughter of a non-Jewish priest? Were his children Jewish?

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=4185C6F58A3D1B71E13CA8D228272363&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


WARMING UP FOR CHANUKAH

Do-It-Yourself Menorah (video)
How to light the Chanukah menorah

Simple-to-follow instructions on how to do the mitzvah of lighting the menorah on Chanukah.

WATCH (4:40) >> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=B5B356530A0B04081E8543E4357D74DB&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Eight Candles Burning (video) (By Yoseph and Leah Urso)


Just another country song about a regular Jewish guy who meets up with four rabbis in their menorah-mobile.

WATCH (1:57) >> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=4D52F68682E97F37DBF5DD7F0FF10177&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah! (video)


The Tzlil V'zemer Children's Choir presents a favorite Chanukah song, "Oh Chanukah."

WATCH (2:27) >> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=DEB1B3713CE9FFE52822C53FFEAD29DF&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


A Long Day for Morgenstern (by Mike Indgin)


"That was my parking space," said Morgenstern. "Bite me," said the young man. Before Morgenstern could answer, he was gone.

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=3807D714259D9225A54BD14FA9EC46CB&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Planning a Chanukah Party (by Chava Leiba Sneiderman)


A time to relax and celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, Chanukah is the perfect time to host a casual get-together for close friends.

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=E9247A92BCFE0732EB4082EBE62CA111&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Homemade Wrapping Paper (by Sara Rivka Dahan)


If you involve the kids in this venture, they will feel so very proud to give gifts wrapped in the paper they made.

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=7123A078FADF7EF4133CF34FB695AD4E&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Why Is Chanukah eight days long? (By Naftali Silberberg)

Was the miracle seven days or eight days? A question with many answers!

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=7F827C1AAFCB8B741F16DE2D60A08C6B&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


19 KISLEV: A CHASSIDIC BEGINNING

19 Kislev


The "birth" of Chassidism: the day it was allowed to emerge from the womb of mysticism into the light of day, to grow and develop as an integral part of Torah and Jewish life.

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=7D613942345FFC47EA0BE5B595BCBE05&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Tanya


The Tanya has revolutionized the way we think about G-d, the human soul, the world and our place in it.

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=A4D842D93E4B5A34F710F1AFFA5AA697&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Knowledge (By Tuvia Bolton)


"What have you been doing for the last year?" asked the irate father-in-law. "What have you accomplished wasting your time by those wild men?"

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=A33EFB72D0B29929EEEDE8CC69475F21&ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


A Deep Slumber (<!-- blank -->)


People were hurrying in one direction. I ran with them, until we came to an imposing edifice, inside which stood two chairs.

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=7ACA3C2E40750D11342E2ADA1AACC36F&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Chabad Meditation (By Tzvi Freeman)


The first thing you need to know about proactive use of your mind is that you have more than one of them.

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=4E94EB028BA1E384D4E37BB1F2019078&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


REACHING INWARD AND OUTWARD

Raising a Child with ADHD (By Anonymous)


On her forehead there is an invisible label which reads: "ADHD."

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=7363FE55F44A68921E0100F64A7DE1FB&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Wealth Distribution (video) (By Lazer Gurkow)


Why doesn't G-d just give each person their appropriate share of wealth, rather than creating a world where some people are wealthy and others are in need?

WATCH (10:52) >> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=B0AA829EE893F35498F534987CE05459&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


PARSHAT VAYEISHEV

Parshah in a Nutshel


What caused the rift between Joseph and his brothers? Why so many dreams in Genesis? Which forces conspired to bring together Judah and Tamar?

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=96C68CADEED140B798E7CC3D98A29919&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


JUDAH AND TAMAR

Tamar's Twins (Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe)


Unlike the mixed progeny of Isaac and Rebecca's marriage, the twin sons born out of this morally dubious union were both righteous men.

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=7912170F366E35DBD841A8C6B34A4AE6&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Torah in Ten: Vayeishev (video) (By Chaim Miller)


Why was the ancestor of Moshiach born from the union of Judah and Tamar? How did Joseph manage to resist Potiphar's wife?

WATCH (10:03) >> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=558797C780F789773665228B952EBDC4&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


SALE OF JOSEPH

The Jailhouse Route to Success (By Dovi Scheiner)


Nowadays, it seems that success comes first, prison only later . . .

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=2B7DF00020386A22AB60E10BC49C57F1&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


Staying On the Swing (By Tali Loewenthal)


It is one of the ironies of life that in order to swing to the greatest height, it is necessary to plunge to the lowest point.

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=C62078E8E9A531B8E8DAA7426C964592&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


The Child in the Pit (By Yossy Goldman)


It is about saving lives not only physically, but also spiritually. How many millions of Jewish children are at risk spiritually?

>> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=3EE7BA6DA00A7CD47AA1C3E6E3C1052C&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


How to Avoid Becoming Bitter (video) (By Chana Weisberg)


Anger and self-pity rob us of our serenity. Bitterness and victimization blind us from seeing another's pain.

Airs Dec. 11 >> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=F9E54A175890357D3D4244983DA6EA4C&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


TIDBITS OF WISDOM AND WIT

Shlomo's Playbook (video) (By Alan Veingrad)


How do you celebrate success? By setting your goals higher!

WATCH (1:07) >> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=FCAAD0D14CD5A6D824D29BF99AC5F791&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2


What's Normal? (video) (By Yehoshua B. Gordon)


Rabbi Gordon shares an amusing anecdote about how his father—Rabbi Sholom Ber Gordon, of blessed memory—wasn't taken into the U.S. army in World War II.

WATCH (2:15) >> http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=A5EA590B6621519674C808158C25C5A9&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

** Enjoyed this email? Please help us continue sharing the
study of Torah and Jewish traditions:

Dedicate or sponsor an email to mark your special occasion!
Please click here: http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=16F6D72F7F56FCE3BA64DD3906AEA57F&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

Please click here to make a donation to Chabad.org:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=7D37A47D145255F91B89EEEB1596A3EF&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

** Important Tip: In order to guarantee that your Chabad.org subscription
emails continue to be delivered to you, please make sure to add our
address, subscriptions@chabad.org, to your address book, or "whitelist"
it in any spam filters or spam programs you may have.

** Manage your complete subscription profile online: Subscribes,
unsubscribes, address changes, vacation holds, and more. Register here:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=AB2EEF1C2DD8B19F7060CE58FBD86355&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2&amp;emailpk=_268514_1826535@

** To subscribe to more Chabad.org email lists please click here:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=B545E7C6B9714C0914A74B6DED018D5F&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

** To be removed from this email list please click here:
http://www.chabad.org/unsub.asp?i=5AF46983675481304A0A65E914773194F6AED3CE25B3A4AA77D75D0FDEF26337
If you would just like your email suspended and resumed at a later
date, please let us know here:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=70E657813F3FCF4CC224B4BA0B038AB2&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2&amp;email=yurochkadrugach.yurochka@blogger.com

** You are subscribed to the "Magazine" email list as:
yurochkadrugach.yurochka@blogger.com. If your e-mail address is changing
please send us your new email address here:
http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=2678CFE635EC29AA7802847640A4D390&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2&amp;email=yurochkadrugach.yurochka@blogger.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Chabad.org
Chabad Lubavitch Media Center
770 Eastern Parkway * Brooklyn, NY * 11213
Web: http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=3E7A2B214CB6F3802E74A44E55BAC647&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2
Feedback: http://link.Chabad.org/go.asp?li=2711EE6592C989135DC2E2DCFCB0F912&amp;ui=F8C16ABBBCDB72AD0024EE2F647D78D2

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>