B"H

Thursday, Kislev 24, 5781 / December 10, 2020

Chanukah begins tonight (Thursday night). Tonight we light one light. Tomorrow (Friday) we light two lights and so we add an additional light each night, until we kindle all eight lights of the Menorah.

Friday we have to be careful to light the Chanukah candlesbefore the Shabbat candles. The reason is because once we light the Shabbat candles and bring in the holy day of Shabbat, we are then prohibited to light a fire. Thus, we must kindle the Chanukah lights first.

Q.  Why is the Chanukah Menorah lit near the window or door?

A.  The miracle of Chanukah celebrates the miracle of the small jar of pure olive oil which was found in the Holy Temple, enough to light the menorah (candelabra) for only one day, which miraculously lasted for eight days. The menorah in the Temple was meant to spread its spiritual light to enlighten the world.  This is why the windows in the Temple were made narrower inside and wider towards the outside. The purpose was that the holy light of the Temple should permeate and illuminate the outside. Thus, we too, kindle the Chanukah lights near the window to illuminate the darkness of the world outside.

Inthe story of Chanukah there is a lesson to each one of us.  The event which took place at that time was the battle between good and evil; a battle between those who wanted to defile all that is holy to us and those who fought to preserve it.  It is a battle we all have every day of our lives.  It is a challenge we face all the time.

The miracle of Chanukah teaches us that one must not be overwhelmed by the forces of evil, even when they are in the majority.  The Macabees were a very small army of fighters who were resolved to fight for good and holiness over impurity and corruption.  Because of their resolve and conviction, even though they were small in numbers compared to the armies of the Syrian-Greek armies, they were victorious.  It is a lesson in our day-to-day battles that if we fight for the truth and don’t give up, we too, will overcome.

On the lighter side: A poor yeshiva student in the shtetel (village) survived by eating a meal with a different family every day, as was customary in those days. The villagers were poor and times were hard, so no matter where he ate, he was served potatoes. Finally, Chanukah came and he was hoping for a more elaborate meal. But to his dismay night after night, all he got was potato latkes and more potato latkes.  Finally, the last night of Chanukah he turned to his host and said, "What blessing should I make over the potatoe latkes?"

"What?" exclaimed his host.  "How could you ask such a simple thing?  Everyone knows that for foods which come out of the ground we make the blessing, "Borei pri ha'adamah."

"I know that." he replied.  "But what blessing do I say for potatoes that are coming out of my ears?"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH