Question
The Chanukah miracle: A flask with one night’s oil burned for 8 nights. But being that there was oil for one night, the miracle actually lasted only 7 nights. So why is Chanukah 8 nights?

Question
Subject: BeChatzi HaLailah At the conclusion of the Passover Seder, we usually sing Adir Hu, Ehad Mi Yodea, Had Gadya. My family and my rabbi's family always skipped BeChatzi HaLailah. My rabbi has found a new interest in this song due to the the bible references in this song. Does anyone in the Ask The Rabbi Team know any melodies for BeChatzi HaLailah? My rabbi and I thank you.

Question
Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. The Mishnah Berurah rules that in order to fulfill the mitzvah of lulav with someone else's lulav, and the owner of the lulav doesn't know that one has to own the lulav in order to fulfill the mitzvah the first two days of Sukkos, the owner must give it to you as a gift on condition that you return it. Once you are given the lulav as a gift on this condition, when you return it to the original owner, in order to put it back in the owner's reshus, do you also have to give it to him as a gift, as a gift on condition that it be returned, or do you just have to give it to him stam, without saying it is a gift. Thanks a lot.

Question
Major parts of the regular Friday evening services are: Kabbalat Shabbat, Shema, Shabbat Maariv Amidah, Kiddush for Friday evening. If Friday evening is also Yom Tov (Festival), (1) we recite Yom Tov Amidah instead of the Shabbat Amidah (2) we recite Kiddush for Yom Tov evening instead of Kiddush for Friday evening The other prayers are the same. Please explain why we omit Kabbalat Shabbat if Friday evening is also Yom Tov (Festival).