Gemara:

Pesachim,  Shabbat 

Halacha:

Brachot,  Tefillah 

Description

The well-known and familiarly sung 2nd Berakhah that accompanies the lighting of the Ner Hanukkah is praise for God Who has wrought great miracles for our ancestors...בימים ההם בזמן הזה - "in those days at this time". These last four words were not always included in the Berakhah and in some versions, there was a conjuctive letter "vav" - בימים ההם ובזמן הזה that carries a different meaning. We trace the development of this ברכה, propose its genesis and earliest sources and then, following the changes in wording, suggest that the earlier formulation reflected a distinct appreciation for the holiday of Hanukka (and much the same may be said about Purim). This shiur was given in memory of Mrs. Shirley Jungreis - שולמית בת משה העניך ז"ל.