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The Menorah Files

The inside story behind the Chanukah miracle

By Tzvi Freeman

Burning a flask of oil for eight days may seem a plain vanilla sort of miracle, but for the engineering teams up in Heaven Inc. it was no piece of cake.

Here's the story from their perspective —and from that of the great halachist, Rabbi Yosef Karo.

Menorah Files, Light I: The Bid

Major miracle goes up for tender

Heaven Inc. e-mails all heavenly engineering firms conditions and stipulations for the menorah miracle.

9 Comments

Menorah Files, Light II: The Consultant

Guidance from the future

How the Heavenly Court commissioned the services of an earthly consultant.

2 Comments

Menorah Files, Light III: Quality

The best oil Heaven can provide

"No, I don't mean your schematics, or your software code or any of that. I'm talking about the human interface."

1 Comment

Menorah Files, Light IV: Quantity

Oil unlimited from Outanowhere inc.

Outanowhere inc. presents their alternative solution

1 Comment

Menorah Files, Light V: Outa Nowhere

The limits of unlimitedness

Outanowhere discovers that more is less and infinite power is not always a sufficient solution.

Menorah Files, Light VI: Miracle Whip

Talmudic thumbs vs. Syrian swords

Rabbi Karo stumps the Heavenly Court

3 Comments

Menorah Files, Light VII: The Battle

Flaming Wonders and the Angel of Athens

Yosef Karo confronts the angel of Ancient Greece

Menorah Files, Light VIII: Darkness Shines

The ultimate unresolution

Halacha emerges victorious over Greek logic

7 Comments

Menorah Files: A Fan Letter

...and the author's response

A puzzled fan learns that if it all makes sense, you've got it wrong.

14 Comments

14 Meditations to Light Up Your Chanukah

Here are 14 beautiful mini-teachings, couched in the mystical teachings of Judaism, to bring spirituality, light, and warmth to your Chanukah.

10 Comments

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5 Comments

Elisha November 11, 2024

Hello. Here it is mentioned that it is a halacha that when any kli of the Beis HaMikdash is filled, it must be filled entirely. I could find this halacha as applied specifically to the nerot of the menorah, but could not find this 'klal' anywhere. Could you point me to a source? It is in Mishneh Torah somewhere maybe? Reply

Jaya December 4, 2023

Thank you Rabbi Freeman for this extraordinary read. Would you kindly share the sources for this? I remember having studied it in seminary but can't remember if it was a maamar or a sicha. Reply

Tzvi Freeman December 4, 2023

in response to Jaya:

Likutei Sichot, volume 15, page 183. See also Mai Chanukah, Kehot Publication Society, NY, 1994. Reply

Bochur RCA December 5, 2023

in response to Jaya:

It’s a Sicha. I believe chelek 15 Reply

Jaya December 8, 2023

in response to Tzvi Freeman:

Thank you! Reply

Burning a flask of oil for eight days may seem a plain vanilla sort of miracle, but for the engineering teams up in Heaven Inc. it was no piece of cake.Here's the story from their perspective —and from that of the great halachist, Rabbi Yosef Karo.

Join the Discussion

Burning a flask of oil for eight days may seem a plain vanilla sort of miracle, but for the engineering teams up in Heaven Inc. it was no piece of cake.

Here's the story from their perspective —and from that of the great halachist, Rabbi Yosef Karo.