Chanuka – Tanu Rabonan Ner Chanuka

Torah is here to light up the world with G-dly awareness. Studying Torah merely to grasp its wisdom doesn’t accomplish this. One needs to study it with an appreciation of the holiness of its letters. This is what the Greeks tried to eradicate from the Jewish people. The lighting of the Chanuka Menorah restores this sensitivity to us.

Vayeishev – Vehinei Anachnu Mealmim Alumim

Yosef and his brothers bundling and gathering sheaves represents the collective work of the Jewish people in collecting and elevating all the sparks of holiness scattered all across the universe.