Every holiday, such as Passover, Shavuot, Purim, etc., commemorates an historic event in Jewish history. Chanukah, which will begin Tuesday night, December 16, celebrates two major miracles. 1) The miracle of winning the war against the Syrian-Greek-Hellenic forces. As we recite in the Al Hanisim prayer on Chanukah, in which we give thanks to G-d for this miracle. In the days of Matityahu, the son of Yochanan, the High Priest... when the wicked hellenic government rose up against Your people Israel, to make them forget Your Torah and violate your decrees. But You, in your abounding mercies, stood by them in the time of their distress, You waged their battles , defended their rights and avenged the wrong done to them. You delivered the mighty in the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous... 2) We also celebrate the miracle of the oil in the Holy Temple (Beth HaMikdash), when a small jar of oil, which was barely enough to kindle the menorah for only one day, lasted for eight days. The Chanukah candles are only for the sake of the mitzvah of advertising the miracle of Chanukah. Unlike the Shabbat candles, we are not permitted to have any personal use of the Chanukah lights. We can understand how lighting the Chanukah menorah celebrates the miracle of the oil. But how does lighting the menorah commemorate the miracle of winning the war? The decrees against the Jewish people at the time of Chanukah were not physical, but spiritual. Jews were prohibited to study Torah and observe the mitzvot which connect us to G-d. Thus, the war which the Macabees fought against the Syrian-Greek-Hellenic forces was to protect the observance of Torah and mitzvot. It was a battle for the Jewish soul - the Neshama. The soul is compared to a candle, as is written, The candle of G-d is the soul of man. Torah and mitzvot are also compared to a candle and light. This is why the miracles of Chanukah are celebrated with kindling the lights. The Chanukah candles celebrate the miracle of the small jar of oil from which the menorah was lit for eight days in the Holy Temple. It also commemorates the victory of Torah and mitzvot, which are compared to light. Why arent we permitted to have any personal use from the Chanukah candles? As mentioned above, the Chanukah candles commemorate the lights of the Holy Temple (Beth HaMikdash). One was prohibited from having any personal use from the holy objects of the Temple. Being that the Chanukah candles represent the lights of the Temple we are not to derive any personal benefit from them either Moshiach NOW!!!.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 06:44:02 +0000
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