WorksheetsChanukah Maamar Tonu Rabonon 5738
Total questions: 41
Worksheet time: 21mins
Which opinion says to start with eight candles and decrease each night?
Beis Hillel, paralleling Sukkos bulls
Beis Hillel, because we rise in holiness
Beis Shammai, paralleling Sukkos bulls
Beis Shammai, because we rise in holiness
Why does Beis Hillel say to start with one candle and increase?
We rise in holiness over time
We follow the Sukkos pattern
We match the Temple’s seven
We avoid using extra oil
What question is asked about the Chanukah–Sukkos connection?
Why compare to Sukkos bulls?
Why compare to Purim gifts?
Why compare to Pesach matzah?
Why compare to Shavuos bread?
What is puzzling about having eight Chanukah days and lights?
The Greeks had eight
The oil lasted only one
The altar had nine
The Temple Menorah had seven
When are Chanukah candles lit?
Before dawn to avoid danger
At midday to save oil
At sunrise to greet day
After sunset
When is the Menora in the Bais Hamikdosh lit?
In the afternoon
At midday to save oil
At sunrise to greet day
After sunset to light darkness
What is does the number 7 signify?
the natural order of things
beyond nature
nothing in particular
What is does the number 8 signify?
the natural order of things
beyond nature
nothing in particular
What is the main purpose of the Chanukah lights?
To illuminate the spiritual darkness
To cook festival foods
To warm the room
To mark travel routes
What unique property of oil is highlighted?
It dissolves in water
It freezes quickly
It floats and doesn’t mix
It burns without flame
Spiritually, what does oil represent?
Strict judgment alone
Holiness that rises above
Physical strength only
Worldly power alone
From what level does the Chanukah miracle’s light flow?
From human wisdom
From planetary cycles
Within normal nature
Beyond השתלשלות levels
What effect does this higher light have on darkness?
It makes the darkness shine
It creates more darkness
It ignores the darkness
It hides from darkness
How does this explain lighting after sunset?
Travelers return later
Its role is to light darkness
Daylight is not required
Shops open late nightly
How does the number eight relate to spirituality here?
Eight matches lunar phases
Eight equals priestly watches
Eight counts Temple rotations
Eight is beyond the natural order
What was the main objective of the Greeks in their war against the Jews?
To remove Hebrew language from daily conversation
To control trade routes and collect more taxes
To stop Jewish holidays and community gatherings
To make the Jews forget Torah and transgress Mitzvos
Which aspect of Mitzvos did the Greeks primarily oppose?
The element of Elokus -G-dliness - within Mitzvos
The historical stories linked to commandments
The number of steps required to perform them
The cultural customs surrounding celebrations
What did the Greeks not mind if Jews continued to do?
Change every practice to match Greek culture
Translate Torah into many foreign languages
Stop studying and focus solely on farming
Learn Torah only as human wisdom and logic
What did the Greeks want Jews to forget about Torah and Mitzvos?
That they are Hashem’s Torah and Hashem’s Mitzvos
That they began in the desert with Moshe
That they include both positive and negative laws
That they require teachers and tradition
The phrase
לְהַשְׁכִּיחָם תּוֹרָתֶֽךָ
'YOUR Torah'
highlights which idea?
Torah and Mitzvos were created by ancient scholars
Torah and Mitzvos are mainly about national pride
Torah and Mitzvos are communal property and flexible
Torah and Mitzvos are from Hashem
Which Mitzvos do we [seemingly] understand?
Select two
חוקים
עדות
משפטים
According to the first explanation, which Mitzvos did the Greeks oppose'?
Those that bring clear health and safety benefits
עדות
Those connected to the Land of Israel’s farming
חוקים
According to the deeper explanation, which Mitzvos were the Greeks against?
Only laws that required sacrifices in the Temple
Only the new rabbinic Mitzvos of later generations
All Mitzvos, including edos and mishpatim that we understand
Only the Ten Commandments given at Sinai
Why can human logic not fully grasp the reasons for Mitzvos?
Different communities taught different explanations
Languages changed and meanings were lost over time
People did not record the reasons carefully in history
Human intellect is limited compared to Hashem’s infinite wisdom
How is it described that we understand some reasons for certain Mitzvos?
It is a normal result of human research alone
It is proof that all laws are purely logical
It is mainly due to translation and commentaries
It is a great wonder and a kindness from Hashem
Even when reasons are known, what do they usually explain?
The political benefits to ancient leadership
The mathematical structure behind each ritual
The historical timeline of the Mitzvah’s origin
The general idea of the Mitzvah, not all details
What do we learn about עדות and משפטים compared to חוקים?
They are independent from Hashem’s will
They are also like chukim since they come from Hashem's chochmo and rotzon
They are less important and optional when hard
They are entirely human-made and fully rational
What feeling did the Greeks seek to remove from the Jewish people?
The interest in studying languages and philosophy
The pride in Jewish history and national survival
The excitement for festivals and family traditions
The sense that every Mitzvah comes from Hashem
Why did the Greeks deliberately target the oil in the Beis HaMikdash?
To remove G‑dliness from Jewish life
To increase trade and taxes on oil
To stop Shabbos candle lighting only
To prove the oil spoiled too quickly
What spiritual level does oil represent?
Hod, beauty within ritual
Netzach, perseverance within effort
Binah, analysis within intellect
Chachma, G‑dliness above intellect
What did making the oil tamei represent in the Greek strategy?
Contaminating the sense of G‑d beyond logic
Ending all Jewish festivals permanently
Replacing olive oil with animal fat
Destroying the Beis HaMikdash structure
Which approach wins the spiritual war?
Mesiras Nefesh that is above logic
Rituals performed only when convenient
Avoiding conflict through compromise
Careful debate using sharp logic
What is the classic example of מסירות נפש, throughout history?
Giving up one’s life for Kiddush Hashem
Studying philosophy every evening
Learning languages for diplomacy
Donating oil jars to the treasury
What is Mesiras Nefesh NOT based on?
Miracles that happen every day
Physical strength and training
Community pressure and trends
Human logic and persuasive reasoning
Which soul level is directly connected to Mesiras Nefesh in this topic?
Ruach, the emotional spirit
Yechida, the oneness with Hashem
Nefesh, the animating life-force
Chaya, the living intuition
What cannot happen to the Yechida connection to Hashem?
It cannot become stronger over time
It cannot inspire courage in others
It cannot be blemished or become tamei
It cannot relate to mitzvos at all
Which detail in the Chanukah story mirrors the untouched Yechida?
The marble floors of the Heichal
The eight branches of the menorah
The Maccabees’ military helmets
The single jug of pure oil
How did the few and weak Maccabees defeat the many and strong?
By standing with Mesiras Nefesh above logic
By building taller city walls quickly
By hiring foreign soldiers for help
By inventing new iron weapons
What effect did the Maccabees’ Mesiras Nefesh have on other Jews?
It led them to abandon Torah study
It convinced them to hide permanently
It made them stop public prayer
It inspired them to have Mesiras Nefesh
Why is avodah based only on טעם ודעת [logic] not enough to defeat the יוונים?
Because logic always denies miracles
Because logic makes mitzvos too easy
Because the Greeks contaminated the level of logic
Because logic forbids courage and faith
What is the definition of Mesiras Hanefesh, which is relevant in ALL times?
To stand strong against all obstacles against serving Hashem
Giving up one's life for Kiddush Hashem rather than convert
Saying Tehilim with tears and Davening at great length
