I think the "I throw my latkes in the air sometimes, singing eyyyyooo! Spin the Dreidel!!!!" line is stuck in everyone's head at the moment.
In case you don't know what I'm referring to...
(Were sufganiyot really not mentioned??)
Speaking (well writing. Actually...typing) of sufganiyot -- my friend showed me this hilarious video:
We were all cracking up! :D
I ALWAYS miss Israel and seminary during Chanukah. I was (and am) extremely close with my roomies. We all lit together and gazed at the lights, had an awesome chagiga, had crazy hyper moments (that was every day, though!), and ate sufganiyot, of course ;)
(Uri's Caramel Sufganiyot!)
The environment in Israel is always just so special. During Chanukah, everyone lit outside and the family togetherness was simply heartwarming.
My amazing friend shared a nice dvar Torah with me about Chanukah.
"Yavan" (Greece) in Hebrew is spelled "yud" "vav" "nun"...the three letters are shaped as vetical lines that ascendingly get longer. The Greek culture focused mainly on the body, on the external factors of a person. They worshipped the body and idols, both of which are extremely materialistic & don't have any potential or spiritual growth. "Yavan" also means "quicksand" in Hebrew. That's because materialism and physicality are like quicksand...they grab you and then pull you in, making it laborious to get out and save yourself.
Now, clearly, not ALL materialism is bad. Mesillat Yesharim makes it clear that as Jews, we raise the physical by incorporating spirituality into it. But certain mentalities are totally antiethical to Judaism. For example, being so obsessed with our blackberries, to the point that we can't focus on davening or learning Torah. Why can't we turn off our phones for 30 minutes? Are we THAT attached to the meaningless gadgets? More attached to them than we are to HaShem?
Another example that comes to mind is Tzniut. The Yevanim didn't have ANY concept of modesty. If they wore any clothing, it was very minimal. They wanted to show off the body as much as possible. Some girls think that as long as they're wearing a long sleeved shirt and some form of a skirt, they're good to go. They can get by without having anyone chastize them. But it doesn't have to do with criticism! It has to do with appreciating yourself (your holy neshama) enough to cover up -- to the point that your body isn't the main factor that you're associated with. To tell people: I'm more than my body. I appreciate my myself, I have a brain, I have thoughts, feelings, ambitions, etc. And that's what makes me -- not my body.
I have to deal with this a lot. Magazine, media, models, and all of the shtuyot aside, which outfits really are appropiate for a bat yisrael to wear? It requires a lot of thought, honesty, and inner strength. If any frum man rejects a girl because she's dressed tzanua, then what does he value, exactly? Does she really want to have such a husband? I know that I don't.
A third example is competition. Yevanim were beyond competitive. They had olympics, contests, etc. There's NO SUCH THING as competition in the Torah! Each individual is an important and significant member of Klal Yisrael. It's assur to step on someone to "make it big" -- be it at school, work, etc.
On Chanukah, there was a "Nes" (miracle) for the Maccabees, who didn't give in to Greek culture.
We all have "Nisyonot" (tests). Our lives are filled with Nisyonot and part of missions is to pass those tests. Nisayon in Hebrew is spelled "Nun" "Samech" "Yud" Vav" "Nun"
If you take away the last three letters (which spell "yavan"), you end up with "Nes" (miracle). If we take the "Yavan" out of our mentality and our lives, then b"H we'll see a great Nes in each of our lives! :)
Wishing you all a Chag Chanukah Sameach and Shabbat shalom! May we all have the strength to stay away from all of the harmful shtuyot, and may we merit to see miracles in our daily lives!
What is the last word!?
ReplyDelete"I think the "I throw my latkes in the air sometimes, singing eyyyyooo! Spin the Dreidel!!!!" line is stuck in everyone's head at the moment."
I have probably listened to the song over 30 times...
"(Uri's Caramel Sufganiyot!)"
Those are the most amazing donuts on the planet. I have not found any caramel donuts anywhere near as good as those.
I am still not sure why people do not light candles outside in America. Maybe it is because we use fancy silver menorahs, and do not want them stolen.
My friend showed me in the sefer "Frameworks" by Rav Matis Weinberg something very similar to that. The word tzion (Tzadi, Yud, Vav, Nun) has the letters of Yavan and a tzadi. He said that the only difference between the Jews and Greeks were that the Jews were (Tzadi)kim, and this was their main difference.
Azriel Tzvi-
ReplyDelete"What is the last word!?"
Oh woops. Hehe. It was going to be "yezter haras!"
"Those are the most amazing donuts on the planet. I have not found any caramel donuts anywhere near as good as those."
I haven't seen any caramel doughnuts in the states, period. It's probably good that I didn't because after all of these oily goods, my diet is officially starting tomorrow. :P
"I am still not sure why people do not light candles outside in America."
Because of "sakana"....but yeah, not sure that's much of a problem in the US anymore.
Interesting Torah insight! I like the play on words/gematria themed things.
"Because of "sakana"....but yeah, not sure that's much of a problem in the US anymore."
ReplyDeleteI doubt think that is an excuse anymore. Especially in the areas where Jews live that is mostly populated by Jews.
Is that your friend sufganiya on the top there? He looks like a pretty awesome guy to hang out with. He probably can get you in to all of the chanukah concerts/ parties.
Also, to comment on the maccabeats video... 1,750,000+ views on YouTube and a live concert on CBS, supposedly John Leno called them... Pretty crazy!
Regarding lighting outside vs. inside in contemporary Israel and the Diaspora, here's a comprehensive survey article of the Halachic discussion:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.daat.ac.il/daat/kitveyet/emunat/50/05009.htm
I posted a brief note about the topic here:
http://bdld.info/2010/12/03/to-be-a-free-people-in-our-land/
I very much like this different perspective - so many would be stunned at the comparison between Greek ideals and being glued to one's phone. Plus, I love that view of tznius - it's not about layers or elbows, but about a girl being aware of what makes her, her.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of guys, though, the Gemara does say that a father should buy his daughter cosmetics when she becomes marriageable. Men are hardwired to look at the physicality. But the neshama also enhances the physical features (i.e. Esther HaMalka). So it's a win-win.
Azriel Tzvi - he is pretty cool, isn't he? :)
ReplyDeleteThe Maccabeats were on the Today show yesterday (today-yesterday...haaaa). The clips are on youtube.
Yitzchak - thank you :)
English Major - "Greek ideals and being glued to one's phone."
Yes! It bothers me SO much when people can't imagine an hour without their phone. How do they manage on Shabbat???? Are they also thinking about it 24/7?
Goodness gracious.
"In terms of guys, though, the Gemara does say that a father should buy his daughter cosmetics when she becomes marriageable. Men are hardwired to look at the physicality. But the neshama also enhances the physical features (i.e. Esther HaMalka). So it's a win-win."
I agree. You're right.
Here's the thing about dating & tzniut...
of course it's important to look good and presentable, however, it's extremely problematic that there are frum men who want their wives to look like "frum" supermodels. For ex, long fancy sheitels, extremely tight pencil skirts, and tight shirts, 5 inch wedged-heels, and tons of make up to top it all off is NOT modest. I see the look often, and it embarrasses me. I rather wear pants than dress like that. What are the girls who don't keep tzniut thinking?
I think it's an absolute chilul HaShem.
So yeah, I would never want to marry a guy who can't respect modesty, and who encourages me to dress less modest. (Trust me, those guys actually exist. I've met them.)
Personally, I have a difficult time shopping for date outfits. Because am I thinking from a guy's perspective or from the Torah's perspective?
It's definitely a struggle, but I try not to keep anything in my closet that I don't approve of.
When it comes to dressing for dates, I try to make sure that I won't feel embarrassed (hey, dating is embarrassing enough) if a Rebbetzin would see me.
The women who look, er, va va voom are the extreme. And I'll be blunt - I'm not basing my wardrobe on what my rebbetzin thinks is appropriate.
ReplyDeleteThere is a story about Choni HaMaagal that is my father's favorite. His talmidim came to him, saying that his wife's clothing is not proper - she wore bright colors, like red or yellow. He waved them off, but when they came to him yet again and again, he said: "She dresses like that so I won't look at other women." His talmidim weren't comfortable, but he was not accommodating them.
If a man wants his wife to look a certain way, it is not necessarily for everyone else, but for himself, which may not be so terrible. There are levels, and degrees, and such.
Beautiful post! Thanks for these thoughts - I loved reading them!
ReplyDeleteEnglish Major - my wardrobe isn't based on that either :)
ReplyDeleteBut it's something I keep in mind...
I've never heard of that story. Really interesting -- thanks for sharing! :) I'm sure there's more to that G'mara than what meets the eye. I'd have to see some mefarshim. "HaMachti et chavero" might be an issue...also, who says we follow Choni HaMagel?
This is a side note, but there're rabbanim today and respected kollel men whose wives dress controversional. To say the least. My naive bubble was burst a while ago: I've learned that just because a Rav does something -- doesn't make it muttar for him, or anybody else. I miss those naive days...
boooo. No fair.
Londonrunners - jesus spam isn't welcomed on my blog. Your comment has been deleted, but thank you for stopping by. :)
Devorah - thank you!
English major, sefardi girl- so a few points on this gemara. It is in taanit 23 starts on the bottom of amud Alef and continues most of the way down bet. The story is actually with abba chilkiyah a grandson of choni hamagel. When it came to his wife there are a few points to notice. 1) she was in fact wearing nice clothes. 2) the 2 men that were with abba chilkiya were suprised by her nice clothes meaning that most women of the time did not wear such nice clothes, otherwise why ask the question? 3) she was only wearing the nice clothes for her husband and didn't not intend for others to see her, she was home and was not expecting guests, ignoring the fact that women never normally left the house in the time... 4) abba chilkiya went out of way to make sure the men would not look at his wife that is why he walked behind her, because he did not trust them with his wife.
ReplyDeleteSo it would be fine according to everyone for a wife to dress up nice for her husband in their own home. Also, I doubt that the wife of a tanna dressed even with the tiniest bit of prizuit.
"My naive bubble was burst a while ago: I've learned that just because a Rav does something -- doesn't make it muttar for him, or anybody else. I miss those naive days..."
This is a very sad fact. Let's just say the yetzer hara is very good at his job... Also, we cannot blame it all on him, we must take some of the blame for ourselves. When someone whose umnus is Torah and they act the wrong way it is a lacking in their learning. If someone's torah does not effect their being then they are not doing it right. Torah is not just a chachma like philosophy or math, it is a way of life and this is people don't get nowadays. If someone is learning but is a jerk then something is very wrong. This is why rav yisrael salanter started the mussar movement. This is what our generation is missing!
Sefardi Gal said:
ReplyDeleteThere's NO SUCH THING as competition
in the Torah!
Mr. Cohen responds:
Babylonian Talmud, tractate, Baba Batra,
Page 21A, 5th line from bottom of page:
Envy (or competition) between scholars increases wisdom (kinat sofrim tarbeh chochmah).
Azriel Tzvi -
ReplyDeletewow! So interesting. Thank you for sharing :)
"So it would be fine according to everyone for a wife to dress up nice for her husband in their own home."
Of course a wife MUST dress up nicely for her husband! I've never been married, so I can't judge, but it's definitely difficult for me to understand how married women can wear shlumpy looking robes, sock-like snoods, and no make-up when they're around their husbands. It's even more crucial for a woman to take care of herself after marriage than when she's dating.
Mr. Cohen - touche. If I recall correctly, the shiur I heard was referring to physical-based competition...
HaShem only wants what we can give. We're not expected to be anything more than our potential!
http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/76/Q1/
ReplyDeleteAbove is a link from ohr sameach discussing tznius and Abba Chilkia.
Since this was niggling me (that my father could have been quoting the wrong story for thirty years) I had him look it up, as per Azriel Tzvi's source. While my father's story has irregularities (Abba Chilkia vs. Choni Hamaagal his grandfather, men seeking prayers for rain vs. talmidim) the basic message is the same.
ReplyDelete1)It doesn't say that the wife emerged from the home; it says that she greeted him when he reached the city, meaning she was seen by all the townspeople. When these men asked Abba Chilkia why his wife is so adorned, he replied "So I will not gaze upon other women." City gates = not only in the home.
2) The men had, in essence, were strangers that followed him home. When asked why he followed his wife into the home, he replied, "Because I did not know your character." Not that he didn't want them checking out his wife. They were strangers. If his wife was wearing a potatoe sack he wouldn't have left them alone with her.
ReplyDelete(I had to post 2 separately as the comment was too long).
English Major - sometimes I wish these stories wouldn't be so vague! But in any case, I think everyone agrees that a woman should look good for her husband.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it's definitely an issue if she's turning heads. And it's also an issue if she's dressed in shmatta clothing.
There should be a normal, happy medium! The definition of "normal", however, is subjective. And there doesn't seem to be a set formula.
Sometimes all that's required is sechel/common sense.