A special gate in heaven that only opens this Shabbat Chanuka focus

This Shabbat is a triple celebration - Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh Tevet, AND Chanukah. We bring out three sifrei Torah - one for Parashat Mikeitz, one for Rosh Chodesh, and one for Chanukah.

Besefer Hilchot HaMeyuchas, attributed to Rabbi Yishmael Kohen Gadol, there's a special gate in heaven that only opens when three Torah scrolls are taken out on Shabbat. The Beit Yisrael of Gur used to tell people to focus on their deepest prayers during this opening of the Aron Kodesh - that H'shem will fulfill their heart's requests.

Reb Yemima Mizrachi teaches that's the secret to adding one more candle every night of Chanukah. This is how we must approach tefillah.

*Never give up. Keep showing up. Keep davening.*

Even when you don't see results yet, keep increasing the momentum - add another candle, add another prayer, add another moment of connection.

That persistence? That's when the gates open and the breakthrough comes.

Photo by Taylor Flowe on Unsplash

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