לזכות ידיד נפשי ר' יוסף עזרא בן אסתר וכל בני ביתו לברכה והצלחה בכל מעשי ידיו.
People want to shine to the world. That is our task in this world. But man does not come out of a vacuum. There must be a source and a foundation. That is the HOME AND FAMILY. If you want to change the world, invest in your family. That will give you the strength to expand outwards ימה וקדמה צפונה ונגבה. Look at Yaakov Avinu - He was the only of the three Avos who had a large successful family [Yishmael for Avraham and Esav for Yitzchak were not considered a success by Chazal] and he was also given the bracha of ופרצת ימה וקדמה צפונה ונגבה - He spread across the earth as did his descendents. This notion is lost on many people. They focus on the community at the expense of their families.
That is the lesson of Chanuka - מצות חנוכה נר איש וביתו. The Mitzva of Chanuka, of spreading light to the world, starts at home. נר איש וביתו - The candle of a man and his home. ביתו זו אשתו - Chazal say that a bayis is a wife. The better one's marriage, the more positive will his contribution be. The more he invests in his children who are bnei beiso - the more light to the world. A man draws his light from his home.
Read the words of Rav Moshe Tzvi Neriah:
