B"H
Tuesday, Kislev 10, 5778 / November 28, 2017
We are two weeks to Chanukah! The first Chanukah candle will be lit Tuesday night, December 12.
Chanukah being an eight day holiday, there is always at least one Shabbat during Chanukah and sometimes even two, when the first day is Shabbat.
Q. What is the meaning of the name Chanukah?
A. Chanukah means dedication. On Chanukah, the 25th day in the month of Kislev, the Holy Temple, which was in a state of defilement, was re-dedicated and restored.
Q. Why is Chanukah celebrated for eight days?
A. When the Jews re-dedicated the Temple and wanted to light the Menorah, they realized that all the jars of oil were defiled by the Greeks and were not fit for lighting the Holy Menorah in the Temple. They finally found one cruise of undefiled pure olive oil, bearing the seal of the High Priest. However, it contained no more than one days supply. But when they lit the menorah a miracle occurred and the oil lasted for eight days. By then they were able to produce new oil.
Q. Why, in contrast to the Shabbat candles which are lit on the table where we eat the Shabbat meal, the Chanukah candles are kindled near a window or door?
A. The purpose of the Shabbat candles is to bring light within the home. But the purpose of the Chanukah candles is to publicize the miracle of Chanukah. We light the Chanukah candles near a window or door in order to publicize the miracle of the Chanukah lights to the outside world.
Q. Why is it important to publicize the miracle of Chanukah more than other miracles?
A. The miracle of Chanukah, when a small cruise of oil, enough to barely last one day, lasted eight days, took place inside the Holy Temple. This miracle was not visible to everyone, as only the Kohanim (priestly family) were allowed to enter the Holy Temple. Thus, the rabbis established that this miracle should be publicized, so that everyone will know about it.
Q. One is not permitted to have any personal use from the Chanukah lights. Why?
A. One was prohibited to have any personal benefit or use from the objects in the Temple. Because the Chanukah lights commemorate the lights of the Menorah in the Holy Temple, we too, are prohibited to have any use from the Chanukah lights.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY