Opening discussion: what is home for you?
Our roadmap for this session:
- What does hanuca celebrate?
- What does bait mean? What does this tell us about the holiday of hanuca?
- How can we implement this in our homes? In our Moishe Houses?
1/ So what happened? A tale of rebuilding houses.
Midrash Maaseh Hannuca, Otzar Midrashim, Yehuda Eisenstein (20th Century)
Hebrew text: http://bit.ly/2eWm5ja
The Greeks said "let's create for them decrees so they'll give up on their God and they will believe in our idolatry!" They decreed "Any Israelite that makes a lock or a closing for his gate will be stabbed by the sword." Why was that? So Israel would lose their dignity and decency, because any house that lacks a door lacks dignity and decency, for anyone can come in, by day or by night.
When the Israelites heard this, they destroyed the doors of their houses. They could not eat or drink or use their beds for fear of thieves. Their eyes did not see sleep by day or by night. It happened to them what the text describes as "you will fear night and day" (Deut. 25). (...) This lasted 3 years. (...)
Why does being free demand a door? Isn't that counter-intuitive?
2/ How do we remember? With a house!
ת"ר מצות חנוכה נר איש וביתו
Our Sages taught: The mitzvah of Chanukkah is a [single] candle for [each] man and his household
(ז) נֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחוֹ עַל פֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ מִבַּחוּץ בַּטֶּפַח הַסָּמוּךְ לַפֶּתַח עַל שְׂמֹאל הַנִּכְנָס לַבַּיִת כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מְזוּזָה מִיָּמִין וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה מִשְּׂמֹאל. וְאִם הָיָה דָּר בַּעֲלִיָּה מַנִּיחוֹ בַּחַלּוֹן הַסְּמוּכָה לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁהִנִּיחוֹ לְמַעְלָה מֵעֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִכָּר:
The candle of hannuca, the mitsva (command) is to set it at the entrance of his house, outside of the lintal that is on the left of the gate of the house. Hence, there will be the mezuzah on the right and the candle on the left. And if he lives upstairs, he sets it at his window in front of the public domain. And a hannuca candle that he sets further up than 20 cubits is worthless, because it is not seen.
What is the instrumental link between homes and performing pirsumei nissa, publicizing the miracle?
3/ So what is a house? When does it become a home?
- havruta study -
Take 1: the legal/objective definition. What does that definition clarify? Lack?
(א) עשרה תנאין יש בבית ואחר כך יתחייב הדר בו לעשות לו מזוזה ואם חסר תנאי אחד מהן פטור מן המזוזה ואלו הן:שיהיה בן ארבע אמות על ארבע אמות או יתר ושתהיינה לו שתי מזוזות ויהיה לו משקוף ותהיה לו תקרה ויהיו לו דלתות ויהיה השער גבוה עשרה טפחים או יותר ויהיה הבית חול ויהיה עשוי לדירת אדם ועשוי לדירת כבוד ועשוי לדירת קבע.
(1) There are ten conditions on a house, and after [meeting] such, the occupant of it is obligated to do a mezuzah for himself. And if it lacks one condition out of them, one is exempt from the commandment. And these are them: that it will be an area of four cubits by four cubits or more; that it will have two doorposts; and it will have a lintel; and it will have a roof; and it will have doors; and the entrance will have a height of ten handbreadths or more; and that house will be for ordinary [i.e. non-sacred] use; and it will be made for the occupancy of a human; and made for the occupancy of [something] respectful; and made for fixed occupancy.
Take 2: the legal/subjective definition. Why does this definition insist on rent and sleep as key factors in deciding whether place is home or not?
(ג) אִשָּׁה מַדְלֶקֶת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה, שֶׁאַף הִיא חַיֶּבֶת בָּהּ; אֲבָל אִם הִדְלִיקָהּ חֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן, לֹא עָשָׂה כְּלוּם, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִנִּיחָהּ גָּדוֹל; וְיֵשׁ מִי שֶׁאוֹמֵר בְּקָטָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְחִנּוּךְ, מֻתָּר.
הַגָּה: וּלְדִידָן דְּכָל אֶחָד מִבְּנֵי הַבַּיִת מַדְלִיק בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, קָטָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְחִנּוּךְ צָרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק גַּם כֵּן.
A woman may kindle the Chanukah lights in performance of the mitzva, as she is also obligated to fulfill this mitzvah.
However, if a deaf mute, a mentally incapacitated or minor kindled the lights nothing will have been accomplished even if a grown person placed the lights there.
There is an authority who says that a child who has reached the age when he must be educated towards the performance of the mitzvah is permitted to kindle the Chanukah lights.
Gloss(comment by the Rema): For us, who practice is that each member of the household kindles Chanukah lights independently, a child who has reached the age when he must be educated towards the performance of the mitzvah is also required to kindle the Chanukah lights.
Take 3: the subjective/ideal definition. How is the ideal home different from the legal home? How does the ritual of hanuca brings together the ideas of light, home and renewal?
Maamarei Hanukkah, Netivot Shalom p. 32, HaRabbi MiSlonim (20th Century)
The holiday of Hanuca means that we can renew our spiritual home and rededicate it. The light of Hanuca in our homes remind this to us. Hanuca lights the way of the Jews. The mission statement of the Jews is "Vayehi Or", "Let there be light".
Take 4: the partnership definition. What does the double-meaning of bait, house and wife, tell us about this place? What does the home open us to?
(א) שבעת ימים קודם יום הכפורים מפרישין כהן גדול. מביתו ללשכת פלהדרין ומתקינין לו כהן אחר תחתיו שמא יארע בו פסול. רבי יהודה אומר אף אשה אחרת מתקינין לו. שמא תמות אשתו. שנאמר (ויקרא טז, ו) וכפר בעדו ובעד ביתו. ביתו זו אשתו.
(1) Seven days before the Day of Atonement, we sequester the High Priest from his house to the Palhedrin Chamber, and we prepare for him another priest in his place, [for] perhaps there will occur in him a disqualification. Rabbi Yehuda says: We even prepare another wife for him, [for] perhaps his wife will die; as it is said, "and he shall atone for himself and for his household" - his "household" is his wife. (...)
Billy Joel, You're My Home, 1981
When you look into my eyes
And you see the crazy gypsy in my soul
It always comes as a surprise
When I feel my withered roots begin to grow
Well I never had a place that I could call my very own
That's all right, my love, 'cause you're my home
When you touch my weary head
And you tell me everything will be all right
You say, "Use my body for your bed
And my love will keep you warm throughout the night"
Well I'll never be a stranger and I'll never be alone
Whenever we're together, that's my home
Home can be the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Indiana's early morning dew
High up in the hills of California
Home is just another word for you
Well I never had a place that I could call my very own
That's all right, my love, 'cause you're my home
If I travel all my life
And I never get to stop and settle down
Long as I have you by my side
There's a roof above and good walls all around
You're my castle, you're my cabin and my instant pleasure dome
I need you in my house 'cause you're my home.
You're my home.
European Jewish wedding rings, 16th - 18th Century
Take 5: the Moishe House! YOU are experts in the power of Jewish homes.
- What is a Moishe House? As residents or hosts, you strive in a home, rather than a public space, or a synagogue, as your Jewish unit of reference. What does this allow you to be and build?
- What does dedicating a Moishe House mean and look like?
- What miracle(s) does a Moishe House publicize?
(ג) רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, שְׁלשָׁה שֶׁאָכְלוּ עַל שֻׁלְחָן אֶחָד וְלֹא אָמְרוּ עָלָיו דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה, כְּאִלּוּ אָכְלוּ מִזִּבְחֵי מֵתִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה כח) כִּי כָּל שֻׁלְחָנוֹת מָלְאוּ קִיא צֹאָה בְּלִי מָקוֹם. אֲבָל שְׁלשָׁה שֶׁאָכְלוּ עַל שֻׁלְחָן אֶחָד וְאָמְרוּ עָלָיו דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה, כְּאִלּוּ אָכְלוּ מִשֻּׁלְחָנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל מא) וַיְדַבֵּר אֵלַי זֶה הַשֻּׁלְחָן אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי ה':
(3) Rabbi Shimon says: Three who ate at one table and did not say upon it words of Torah - it is as if they ate from the offerings of the dead, as it is said (Isaiah 28:8): "For all of the tables are full of vomit and feces without the Omnipresent." However, three who ate at one table and said upon it words of Torah - it is as if they ate from the table of the Omnipresent, blessed be He, as it is said (Ezekiel 41:22): "And he said to me, this is the table that is before the Lord."
