Each holiday we celebrate throughout the year has two aspects to it. The obvious one is the historical commemoration. We celebrate the miracles that were performed at that time and the salvation that resulted. Chanukah certainly has that component with the miracle of the oil and the victory in battle. There is, however, a second component which often gets overlooked. Each holiday also has within it a message that is relevant for today. It talks to us and helps give further insight into ourselves. This makes the holiday alive and relevant in our day-to-day lives, as these messages are ones we can and need to apply year-round. What message does Chanukah call out to us?
One of the most fundamental disputes involving the mitzvos of Chanukah concerns the way we light the Menorah. The opinion of Bais Shammai is that we light eight candles the first night, seven the second until one on the last night. Bais Hillel opines the opposite, one the first night, two the second until eight on the last night. What is the fundamental idea behind this dispute?
Chazal teach us that we need to be “sur may’rah v’asei tov,”avoid bad and do good. Simply understood, it should be done in that order – first obliterate the negative and then focus on the positive. This is the rationale of Bais Shammai. Chanukah represents our victory over the Greeks: the forces of Torah being victorious over the ideals and shallowness of Western civilization. Thus, we begin with eight candles and reduce the order as we go along. This represents the continuing effort to destroy the negative effects of Western culture. The fire of the Menorah is the fire that destroys the forces of evil.
Bais Hillel states that it may be ideal to first destroy the outside influences allowing for a greater ability for excellence in our Torah lifestyle. However, in practice it is very difficult. We are bombarded with the values and lures of the outside world. From where can we get the strength and wherewithal to rise above it? Bais Hillel responds that in practice we need to begin with the “asei tov” –do the mitzvos, get involved, but most importantly get excited about them.
The fire is the fire that represents “hislahvus,”excitement and passion for what we are doing. When a person builds day after day upon that excitement and enthusiasm, the lure for anything outside will surely dissipate. The question we have to ask ourselves is: How can we make our life of Torah and mitzvos the most exciting and enjoyable way to live life? If we spend the days of Chanukah pondering and thinking of ways to accomplish this, we have certainly used them in the most productive manner possible.
Rabbi Avrohom Weinrib is the Rov of Congregation Zichron Eliezer in Cincinnati, OH. He also serves as the Rabbinic Administrator for Cincinnati Kosher.
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Cincinnati boasts a beautiful growing Orthodox community with the amenities of a big city and an “out of town” feel. With two new shuls, a new mikvah, eruv and a flourishing day school, it continues to attract families looking for a warm close-knit community and an extremely affordable cost of living. Between low housing prices and school vouchers, it gives frum families the ability to live a comfortable lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of living in a bigger city.
State Capital: Columbus
State Nickname: The Buckeye State
State Motto: With God all things are possible
State Flower: Scarlet Carnation
State Bird: Cardinal
First Shul: Rockdale Temple, founded 1824
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