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Young Israel of Westside Shiurim

Shabbos 22

  1. Chanukah light placed higher than 20 amos is no good, (normal line of vision does not extend beyond that point so it won't publicize the miracle)

  2. The pit the brothers threw Yosef in was empty of water, but filled with snakes and scorpions.

  3. Menorah should go on the left side of the doorway, (when one is entering) so the mezuzah is on one side and the menorah on the other.

  4. The pasuk indicates that one should not perform the mitzvah of kissui hadam with one's foot, but rather with one's hand, and this serves as a source that one should not act disrespectfully with mitzvos. Similarly, one should not count money by the light of Chanukah and one cannot benefit from Sucah decorations.

  5. There's a dispute between Rav and Shmuel whether one can light one Chanukah light from another. In one version, Rav forbids it specifically where one is using a wood chip to transfer the fire from candle to candle bc it is disgraceful to use mitzvah light to ignite an ordinary flame. Shmuel holds it is ok bc its being done ultimately for the sake of a mitzvah. In this version, even Rav would allow it is one lit the 2nd candle directly from the first. In a second version, Rav forbids it even when lighting directly, bc it temporarily weakens the first candle and that is disrespectful to the mitzvah.

  6. In the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash, the "western candle" would miraculously stay lit longer than the other candles, and they would light the other candles from it. The Gemara seems to prove from this at least that one may light one mitzvah candle directly from another. However, the Gemara counters that it depends on a bigger question by Chanukah- is the mitzvah the lighting itself or the "placement" of the menroah? This question pertains to a case where a child lit a menorah and an adult placed it down. If the mitzvah is the lighting, the mitzvah is not fulfilled. But if the mitzvah is the placing, then the mitzvah is fulfilled. If the mitzvah is the placing and the lighting is only preparing the mitzvah, then perhaps one cannot light one candle from another bc they aren't actually fulfilling the mitzvah with the lighting itself.

Broadcast on:
27 Mar 2020