Emotional: Lighting of the First Hanukkah Candle at the Prayer Hall Along with the Holy Lesson - The Righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

After the victory of the Hasmoneans over the Greeks, the sages established the holiday of Hanukkah. However, the Rabbis did not immediately institute the eight days of the holiday. After they saw that a spiritual illumination returned at that time of year, a great light of salvations and miracles, the sages understood that these days are days of praise and thanksgiving - and they established it as the holiday of Hanukkah.

Those who arrived at the prayer hall of our teacher, the esteemed righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, on Ido HaNavi Street in Jerusalem, felt this illumination shining with a wonderful pure light.

We bring you the moving holy sights of our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a, together with the holy community, on an unforgettable evening - the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle of 5780. Three hours of songs, hymns, and dances, during which Rav Berland shlit"a delivered his holy words.

At 18:32, our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a, entered and lit the first candle with the blessing of Shehechiyanu. Afterwards, he began with Hanukkah hymns, the Maariv prayer, and delivered the lesson.

Photography: Shimon Pinch, Eliezer Tashkent

Editing: Shuvu Banim Int'

From the holy words of Rav Berland shlit"a in the lesson he delivered at the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle

"Judith was a reincarnation of Yael, the main miracle was through Judith, she cut off the head of Nicanor, he was about to enter Jerusalem. She cut off his head, she gave him milk to drink, with cheese, hence the custom to eat dairy foods, but only in the morning, until 10 AM. This is the custom to eat dairy foods, because thanks to dairy foods the victory over the Greeks was achieved."

"All of Hanukkah is to illuminate the wonderful shades in silver, when it reaches the gentiles the shades disappear. All of Hanukkah is to illuminate the hidden shades, the 370 lights. Therefore, we light the candles at sunset, because at sunset there is still a drop of light, not because it illuminates, because there is light, but - the jug of oil conquers everything."

"If there is one Jew who says Tehillim all day, or Gemara all day - he conquers all the nations."

Photo gallery from the lighting of the first candle at the prayer hall of our teacher, the esteemed righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a - 5780