THEMES of Featured Ascent Lights

The relationship of our physical world to G-d is that of " receiver-giver" (mekabel-mashpia), which is also a paradigm for the feminine-masculine polar forces. Since the Chanukah and Purim miracles occurred within nature and the world stands as "receiver" in relation to G-d, they had to come about through women who symbolize the aspect of "receiver"/mekabel.

We can overcome the negative influences in our immediate environment just as the Macabees conquered the Greeks and rededicated the holy Temple. A small vial of pure oil will always be found, sealed with the seal of the High Priest - the inextinguishable point of one's Judaism, called Yechida of the soul, the 5^th and highest level of the soul that is always tied to the Divine.

The Greeks and the Jews that were influenced by them were upset that we were in touch with the Torah's divine element and they wanted to drive the Jewish people away from their special connection to G-d.

The Greeks accepted only those ideas that make sense to human intelligence, including the existence of G-d, His unity, His first-ness and His eternalness, but they denied G-d's "micro-management" and the Torah commandments which defy logic.

On the other hand, a Jew believes that G-d is higher than any level of wisdom and knowledge, that no thought can contain the Almighty at all, even the loftiest. We and our intellect are limited; we must believe and have faith in the basic foundations of the Torah.

"The soul of man is a lamp of G-d".

Light can be warming and bring comfort, but it can also be the source of much destruction and devastation. Chanukah is a special time for revealing the Hidden Lights of Creation and of actualizing one's spiritual potential - to harness our internal light to bring only love and joy to the world.