Most Popular Essays Essays

• Why men are obligated to light the Chanukah candles?

  Dec 15, 2020 Admin 0 Comments

  In the story of Chanukah, when the Maccabees returned to Jerusalem, they entered the Temple and removed all the idols that the army of Antiochus had placed there. When they wanted to light the menorah, they found only a small jug of pure olive oil bearing the seal of Rabbi Yochanan Cohen Hagadol. It was sufficient to light only for one day. By a miracle of Hashem, it continued to burn for eight days, till new oil was made available. That miracle proved that Hashem had again taken His people under His protection. In memory of this, our sages appointed these eight days for annual thanksgiving and candle lighting.

  
  Chachamim z"l tell us that the Second Temple was destroyed for only one sin - Sinat Chinam - Baseless Hatred. Only one sin brought down the House of G-d, and I believe we are still battling with it till today. There's no unity, and plenty of lashon hara, dislike, and ill will floating between the communities and among people. I believe that the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash is the sin of the men - this is something we as men are responsible for. 
  
  That's why the obligation to light the Chanukah menorah lies on men, and we have eight days to do it - in our own homes, each one, no matter what part of the world he is in, or what the situation he may be in. In addition, the Sages say that there's a segulah in looking at burning candles, and hopefully this will give us chidushim — new insights — into the Torah. But maybe it could also mean that we should look at the candles and ponder: how can we fix the divisiveness, the hatred, and the distancing between communities and people? We got the whole eight days to think,  and the rest of the year to carry out the plan. If anyone can do it, then it is we, men.
  
  Since the destruction of the Second Temple, Hashem has no home to reside in; the Shechina is in exile; the nation is spread around the world; and there are plenty of problems in families, the nation, and the world as a whole. 
  
  Perhaps, this is the time we say: We've had enough of it?!
  
  Perhaps, this is the time to approach this consciously?!
  
  Either, we can keep on lighting our menorahs for years to come - in exile and in our warm homes, distanced from each other, comfortable and in disagreements, or we put our egos aside, make up with each other, unite as a nation and light the Golden Menorah next year in the House of Hashem - our own Bet Hamikdash Shlishi?!!
  
  Shmuel Katanov

  Read more

• Moshe, will sing!!

  Apr 3, 2025 Admin 0 Comments

  Why were the words of the song that Moshe Rabbenu sang in the future tense: "Moshe will sing - Az Yashir Moshe" and not in the present tense? 
  
  But I will ask you another question: why did Moshe wait to sing the song? Why didn’t he sing it when they left the borders of Egypt? Why wait till they crossed the sea?
  
  As it says in Sanhedrin 94A, where's the song from Chizkiyahu HaMelech when, on the night of Pesach, Hashem killed 185,000 soldiers of Sanheriv? But when Hashem cured Chizkiyahu HaMelech, he sang. Since Chizkiyahu HaMelech didn’t sing the song when there was a national miracle, he lost his opportunity to become a Moshiach.
  
  Moshe Rabbenu didn’t sing when they crossed the border of Egypt, but he did once they had crossed the sea. By the time they crossed the sea, he had realized that he had made a mistake; that’s why the words of the song - as if he had prophesied - "Moshe will sing" - a reincarnation of Moshe - Mashiach will sing at the time of Geulah, thus fixing what Moshe Rabbenu had missed.
  
  Below are some more thoughts out loud:
  
  By missing this opportunity, Moshe wasn’t punished right away, but he was as if "marked for more tests in the future - TBD - to be determined". Read my essay about 'Hitting the Rock' - Moshe knew he had made a mistake by not singing the song on time. He was given another chance when he hit the rock, but by then, he was already a seasoned leader who had been fighting in the spiritual realm, teaching and ruling the nation for years. That’s why the hitting of the rock came out as it did due to his calculation as a leader -- for the benefit of the nation, but not as Hashem had planned. Hashem has honored his decision. But these two events have worked against him: he was not allowed to enter Eretz Yisrael and had to stay behind with the nation in the desert.
  
  So, how important is singing in the service of Hashem?
  
  It’s Very...Very Important!!
  
  
  Part 2:
  
  I can't let you go without expanding on this idea. So, for a second, imagine the following scenario. 
  
  In Parashat Beshalakh 13:17 says: "Vayhi Beshalakh... - As it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, G-d did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer."
  
  We were led by G-d towards the land of the Philistines, because it was near. Vayhi - As it happened, what happened? The fact that Moshe Rabbenu did not sing or the absence of the song - happened, this made G-d reroute the nation through the sea, send Amalek, and us having problems until today from the people that are living in that patch of land.
  
  Honestly, this long route we have been walking on is called Galut, and it feels like it drags on forever. 
  
  Let me explain.
  
  What would have happened if Moshe Rabbenu had sung the song of Gratitude upon leaving the land of Egypt?
  
  I believe that the miracles of delivering the ten plaques and devastating ancient Egypt, and later crossing the border that had been guarded for 210 years by the dark forces, are achievements in themselves that requires its own celebration. That's why Hashem expected a song from the Nation. This would have been a HaKarat HaTov or Moment of Gratitude. 
  
  At that moment, this action would have been a valuable lesson, an example for the Nation and the world by the top human authority chosen by G-d. Moshe Rabbenu missed that opportunity. Since the miracles that would be performed in the land of Philistines, amongst a hostile nation, would make our Nation and the world believe in Moshe and G-d Almighty forever and with no doubt, and would have solidified and glorified G-d's authority and the nation's position as G-d's chosen. 
  
  But until then, gentlemen, let's chant as well... Free.. Free.. The minor Moshe. So we, today, can take a turn singing the song of Az Yashir for real this time. We've been practicing this song every day for more than 2,500 years... And Hashem, believe me, we know the words by heart.
  
  Hashem, the time has come for You to let it happen. We're ready whenever You are. 
  
  Shmuel Katanov
  April 3, 2025
  
  

  Read more

• The Life on Autopilot

  Jan 23, 2019 Admin 0 Comments

  As you already know, Moshe Rabbeinu grew up in the palace of the Pharaoh, and one day he decided to go out and see the world beyond the palace. As he toured the city, he saw the hardships and bitterness his people had to endure in their everyday lives. Suddenly, he came across this scene - he saw how an Egyptian guard was beating a Jewish slave.
  
  In Shemot 2:12 says:
  וַיִּ֤פֶן כֹּה֙ וָכֹ֔ה וַיַּ֖רְא כִּ֣י אֵ֣ין אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַֽיִּטְמְנֵ֖הוּ בַּחֽוֹל׃
  “He turned this way and that, and seeing no one about, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.”
  
  Rabbeinu Bahya said:
  וירא כי אין איש אין איש עתיד לעמוד ממנו שיתגייר - And he saw that no one, (people were standing around since Pharaoh found out about this incident), no one was a man enough to stand up to him, to the Egyptian guard. All were afraid, and no one stepped forward to defend the slave.
  
  So Moshe Rabbeinu struck the Egyptian guard, killed him, and buried him in the sand.
  
  In the Masechet Gittin 56A, there’s a story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, where the host of the party was arguing with one of the people who was invited to the party erroneously, and who happened to be his enemy - Bar Kamtza. As they were arguing back and forth, no one from the rabbis present at the party said anything in his defense. When he was thrown out of the party, bar Kamtza decided to take revenge on all those people involved in his humiliation, and the outcome was that we lost millions of lives and the Temple was destroyed.
  
  In another scenario, when Moshe Rabbeinu came late for a few hours from Mount Sinai, where he received the Torah, the people came over to Chur, the son of Miriam, and demanded from him to build them an idol - he flatly refused, for which he was killed, said Rashi on Shemot 32:5:3. After killing Chur they have approached Aaron HaCohen. He saw how they had dealt with Chur and agreed to build them an idol, but he was stretching out the time and slowing the process in hopes that Moshe Rabbeinu would come down and foil this plan. But against all of his efforts and with the help of the Egyptian sorcerers working behind his back, the Golden Calf has emerged from the fire and people have worshipped the idol as it says in Shemot 32:4. When Moshe Rabbeinu came down with the commandments, he saw similar scenario, few thousand or so people are dancing around the golden calf and the rest of the three million people along with Aharon HaCohen are standing around and watching.
  
  After this incident, Aaron HaCohen becomes a Rodef Shalom—the Pursuer of Peace. Aaron HaCohen understood one simple truth – we should not live on autopilot. He began strengthening bonds among friends and families, thereby fostering peace, unity, and harmony in society.
  
  But what is living on autopilot? When we live on autopilot, we make mistakes in ideology, principles, and convictions. We ignore quarrels in society, accept and spread slander, and play along in other people's arguments.
  
  Evil thrives when no one stands up to it, when no one challenges it, and it sweeps more people into it while causing great damage.
  
  As German theologian Martin Niemöller said in his poem in 1933:
  
  "First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
  Because I was not a socialist.
  
  Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
  Because I was not a trade unionist.
  
  Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
  Because I was not a Jew.
  
  Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
  
  And as Albert Einstein said: “This world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
  
  The more we ignore things that are happening with others, standing by idly while letting things be done and words be said, the more it goes out of control, and in the end, we too become liable in the eyes of G-d. Look around in your community, your family, and the places where you have influence. Is it lacking peace? Is there harmony or strife and slander?
  
  Moshe Rabbeinu had to get involved when an Egyptian guard was beating a Jewish slave to death, and he did. The rabbis who were present at the party had to get involved in the story of Kamtza and Bar-Kamzta without considering the consequences it might have. And in the building of the golden calf, the three million people and Aaron HaCohen had to stand their ground and go against the people who were bowing down to the idol, no matter the outcome that was there for them.
  
  The more we keep quiet, thinking that it is none of our business and while pretending we do not notice anything – we give evil time to carry out their evil plans, because that's when they start to count on us that we will defend them, justify their actions before others and not expose their plans – and for this we carry the burden of the guilt. We will be responsible before G-d, as our ancestors did.
  
  So, what should one do? Should he get involved in a machloket (dispute)? Definitely YES! But not to make more trouble or take sides, but to ensure the dispute is resolved and peace is restored.
  
  That's why in Pirkey Avot 1:12 it says: "Hillel used to say: Be of the disciples of Aaron HaCohen, loving peace and pursuing peace..."
  
  When Aharon HaCohen died, at his funeral, there were a lot of children from all those families that were about to fall apart, whom he was able to save. Thousands of children were named after him as a token of appreciation from their parents. Aharon HaCohen has dedicated his life to peace; he has pursued it, has busied himself with it all the hours of his day, giving it the importance and letting us know of the huge responsibility that was placed on our shoulders.
  
  Through his efforts and results, Aharon HaCohen has proven that each of us can — and should — be a peacemaker in our own society.
  
  Shmuel Katanov
  
  

  Read more

• Почему Вс-вышний выбрал Моше Рабейну а не Кораха?

  Dec 26, 2019 Admin 0 Comments

  Слышал однажды от одного человека который сказал: что Вс-вышний поступил с Корахом очень сурово, ведь он всего лишь хотел хорошего для народа, и тоже хотел места под солнцем - ...может быть. Но нам надо понять что двигало Корахом, какие у него были амбиции и идеалы, поняв это мы можем трезво и осознанно посмотреть на ситуацию ещё раз. 
  
  Не секрет что Корах хотел позицию Моше Рабейну и всё остальное что он говорил и делал было просто пыль в глаза. Как говорится - он говорил и делал до тех пор пока не вмешался Вс-вышний. Но почему Вс-вышний выбрал именно Моше а не Кораха, ведь у Кораха были тоже благие намерения и он тоже хотел делать добро народу. Давайте копнём поглубже чтоб по настоящему понять в чём дело.
  
  В чём заключалась ошибка Кораха? Что такое лидер? Почему Моше Рабейну был выбран лидером самим Вс-вышним чтоб вывести народ из Египта? И почему в конце Моше Рабейну всё же умирает в пустыне и не попадает в Израиль? Это очень серьёзные вопросы, и пока мы не разберём что такого увидел в Моше Вс-вышний, мы не сможем понять - почему Вс-вышний выбрал именно Моше а не Кораха для этой миссии?
  
  В Главе Хукат, Г-сподь говорит Моше Рабейну чтоб он взял посох и пошёл поговорил с камнем и чтобы камень дал воду для народа. Сразу возникает вопрос, если он всего лишь должен поговорить с камнем, зачем нужно взять с собой посох. Но это ещё не всё. Когда Моше Рабейну поговорил с камнем, как вы уже знаете - камень воды не дал, и тогда люди из толпы начали шушукаться что Моше Рабейну не говорит со Вс-вышним, и может быть сам всё это и выдумывает. И тогда дав волю своим чувствам Моше Рабейну бьёт камень посохом два раза и сказано: и хлынула вода из камня рекой и попил народ, Бамидбар 20:11. Вроде чудо, вода из камня но не тут то было, приходит Вс-вышний и говорит что Моше и Аарон потеряли возможность попасть в Израиль и останутся лежать здесь в пустыне. Такого поворота событий никто не ожидал.
  
  Позже Тора рассказывает нам об инциденте который произошёл между Моше и Корахом. Корах хотел стать лидером народа и не хотел просто идти следом за Моше Рабейну. Но как всегда это бывает не все кто хотят стать лидером или уже за рулём, по настоящему понимают насколько ответственна и серьёзна их работа и как велик с них спрос - вот так не понимая и не осознавая всего этого Корах рвался заменить Моше Рабейну.
  
  Чтоб ответить на выше поставленные вопросы, нам надо понять каких принципов Моше и Корах придерживались. Ведь прежде чем мы готовы отдать за кого-то голос, мы должны знать как этот кандидат намеревается править.
  
  Мудрецы говорят что в Торе, да и в жизни существуют две структуры правления, заметьте я не говорю о строе государства, например как коммунистический строй. 
  
  Одна из структур - эта структура Пирамиды. Как выглядит пирамида? Это огромное каменное сооружение которое широко внизу, и сужаясь многоступенчато идёт далеко вверх, заканчиваясь одним кирпичиком наверху. Корах думал что как лидер, он будет сидеть там на вышке, а под ним будет его семья, ниже рангом его близкое окружение, а потом дальше и дальше люди выполняющие разные функции в обществе, и там где-то далеко внизу остальная часть народа, про которых он вряд ли будет знать. Наверняка вы знаете все те страны где практикуется пирамидная структура правления - где хорошо живётся президенту и его узкому кругу, а там внизу где-то далеко страдает народ, чьи страдания и проблемы в верхах не известны. Также вы слышали про все финансовые пирамиды - как много делают денег люди в верхах но все те кто присоединяются к ней позже теряют свои сбережения и в конце концов все пирамиды рушатся, потому что эта система правления не работает. Поднимая людей на восстание, изменяя правду и придумывая байки, Корах и все ему подобные показывают что им безразличны судьбы тех людей которые пошли за ними. Что и случилось, Корах и все те люди которые присоединились к нему с семьями провалились под землю в ад.
  
  Но есть другая структура. Став лидером, Моше Рабейну показал что править народом не совсем уж лёгкое и простое дело. Придя в Египет он прошёл много трудностей с фараоном, уже в пустыне когда народ сделал золотого тельца, Моше Рабейну упрашивал Вс-вышнего чтоб Он простил им этот грех, когда народ роптал про неудобства в пустыне, Моше Рабейну опять ходатайствовал за народ, он слышал от них много недовольства, но не смотря на всё это - он всегда был готов  пожертвовать собой ради народа. И всё потому что Моше Рабейну придерживался иной идеи правления народом - структурой Меноры.
  
  Как выглядит Менора? Во первых, она сделана из одного, цельного куска золота - чтоб показать что народ Израиля является одним целым. Во вторых, она стоит на одной ноге и от неё отходит шесть ветвей, три вправо и три влево и одна в центре. Центром Меноры являлся сам Моше Рабейну, а ветви Меноры - это раскрытые руки лидера отведённые в стороны - это и является всё общество Израиля, все колена и каждый человек в отдельности. Моше Рабейну нёс весь народ на своих плечах - все ссоры и житейские проблемы народа были на нём и были его проблемой - все сорок лет пока он не передал правление.
  
  И что же думал Моше Рабейну стоя у камня с посохом в руках, тот самый посох который Вс-вышний ему сказал чтоб он захватил с собой? 
  
  Он смотрел на этих людей которых он вёл много лет по пустыне, и вот что он понял. То поколение которое получило наказание быть погребёнными в пустыне после случая с разведчиками, уже давно было не с ним, и все люди которые его окружали были детьми тех людей. И Моше Рабейну впервые почувствовал себя чужим среди своего народа, потому что всех тех кого он вывел давно уже лежат в земле, в пустыне. 
  
  И вот он стоит у камня, и все эти мысли пробегают у него в голове. Зная и понимая ход его мыслей, Вс-вышний говорит ему возьми посох и поговори с камнем. Народ для Моше Рабейну был всё - несмотря на все проблемы которые они ему причинили за все эти годы, Моше Рабейну бьёт камень, этим давая знать всем тем кто остался в пустыне, что он не уходит от них а как истинный лидер, остаётся вместе с ними за пределами Израиля. Мидраш говорит, что когда придёт Мошиях, Моше Рабейну сделает то что он уже начал - приведёт народ пустыни и всех тех кто лежит вне Израиля в Землю Обетованную.

  Идти вперёд через трудности несмотря ни на что, жертвовать всем даже жизнью ради народа - это и отличало Моше Рабейну от Кораха.

  А вот нам стоит над чем задуматься - какая у Нас структура правления - в семье, в общине и в нашем обществе?
  
  Шмуэль Катанов
  
  
  

  Read more

• Why did Yaakov Avinu switched hands while blessing Joseph's sons?

  Jan 15, 2018 Admin 0 Comments

  Every Friday night, we bless our children with the blessings of Menashe and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph. We want our children to be, act, and be blessed like those two boys. But while blessing, Yakov Avinu switched his hands, placing his right hand on Ephraim, the second son, and his left hand on Menashe, the firstborn. The right way should always be the right hand on the firstborn and the left on the second son.
  
  It pained Joseph to see this. So Joseph pointed it out to Yakov Avinu, saying, "This is his oldest son," pointing at Menashe. But Yakov Avinu said: From him will come a great nation, but from the other a greater nation will come, but... There was something that made Yakov Avinu give importance to the second son. What was it?
  
  Let's look into this closely.
  
  When Yakov Avinu saw these two boys, he was happy to see the achdut—friendship and brotherly love—that they had, even though they were raised amongst the gentiles in Mitzraim—far from the influence of Jacob's household. He saw something that earlier generations lacked. Kain and Hevel had problems between themselves, where Kain ended up killing his brother. So with Yishmael and Yitzchak, Hashem intervenes and asks Avraham to listen to Sarah, and he drives Yishmael out of his home. In the case of Yakov and Eisav, they had problems as well; Yakov had to run from home because he was afraid for his own life. Even amongst his own children, there was animosity towards Joseph. And now by placing his right hand on Ephraim, it is like ‘Déjà vu’ all over again. When Yakov gave a ketonet passim —a striped coat —to Joseph and singled him out from all his children, the result was 22 years of separation from his son Joseph. And now, by putting his right hand on Ephraim, he is introducing exactly the same thing into the relationship of these two young boys.
  
  But Yakov Avinu saw it differently. The love that he saw they had towards each other was more than any others had before. And by placing his right hand on the second son, he knew that his oldest brother would not be jealous of his younger brother and would only be happy for him.
  
  But there may be another reason.
  
  Gideon (see Judges) will come from the tribe of Menashe, and Yehoshua bin Noun will come from the tribe of Ephraim. Both are great men, but Yakov Avinu saw that the tests they would face in life would be at different levels for each.
  
  The tests in life are what separate us, and our reactions to them will determine whether we make the right or wrong choices. While going through a test and under pressure, we may hurt others and burn the bridges or build castles and discover powers within to overcome whatever is thrown our way.
  
  When the tribes approached Moshe Rabbenu to send spies to Eretz Yisrael, Yehoshua bin Noun was among the candidates chosen to spy out the land. Knowing the intentions of the others, Moshe Rabbeinu was afraid that this would influence Yehoshua bin Noun and that he might take the wrong side and commit a grave sin of slandering the land. So Moshe prayed for Yehoshua so he would not make that mistake, and he even changed his name to increase the odds.
  
  When Yakov Avinu was giving the blessing to Joseph's sons and saw the consequences of that slander, he felt that Yehoshua needed a blessing from his right hand —an extra push in the right direction, a zechut, or merit from Yakov Avinu himself through Ephraim.
  
  The death of that whole generation, wars, pogroms, and destruction of both Temples and all of the suffering that Am Yisrael has endured to date came because of that day, the slander, a false report that spies gave to the nation when they came back, and the nation’s reaction to it.
  
  Thus, by blessing Ephraim with the right hand, Yakov Avinu helped Yehoshua bin Noun to pass the test of the spies with flying colors. Yehoshua bin Noun returned, brought the right report, became the leader after the passing of Moshe Rabeinu, and took the Am Yisrael to the land of Israel.
  
  May the blessings of our fathers and our rabbis give us the right push in the right direction when the time comes, so we all shall build and not destroy, make the right choices, and pass our personal tests with flying colors, amen!!
  
  Shabbat Shalom,
  Shmuel Katanov

  Read more