Ep. 572: Dedicated to all the Kedoshim hy”d murdered on the first night of Chanukah in Sydney, Australia. And a refuah shleimah v’krovah to all those injured.

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: How can we possibly address the horrific terror attack on Jews celebrating Chanukah in Sydney leaving 16 of our people dead? Ad mosai?! What does G-d want of us? How could this happen on Chanukah, which is about conquering darkness with light? And demonstrating this in the streets with a public menorah as the Rebbe instructed?  How can we ever explain the tragic murder of any innocent person, let alone a shliach, when we are told that shluchei mitzvah einan nizokin? Where was the protection from above, especially considering that Chanukah draws down from the highest levels of G-dliness, eight above seven? Is it safe to light public menorahs? What do we do about this – physically and spiritually? How can we not feel deep despair and want to give up on Judaism? How do we celebrate Chanukah and learn its lessons in face of this tragedy? What are the primary lessons of Chanukah? Why do we mark the holiday by lighting flames rather than commemorating the victory in the battle against our enemies? What does the light actually represent? What was the war about between the Greeks and the Jews? Did it also include a civil war between the Jewish Hellenists and the rest of the community? Why do we light the candles in the evening, at the door facing outside, and why eight candles – differently than the menorah lighting in the Holy Temple? Why are we not allowed to benefit from the light of the Chanukah candles? Why did the Rebbe institute the lighting of public menorahs? What is the basis of Hillel and Shammai’s different opinions about the order of lighting the Chanukah candles? How will we light the candles after Moshiach comes? How to navigate when you're at rock bottom with barely any support?\Can we apply the story of hearing the child’s cry to Hashem and His people? Does Miketz hint to the end of golus? Chanukah Dealing with harsh difficulties Miketz