B"H

Tuesday, Kislev 19, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 13, 2022

Chanukah begins this Sunday night, December 18. One of the many lessons from Chanukah is how important each and every mitzvah is. There is no mitzvah too small or too insignificant.

Mitzvot are called, “light” and just as even a small light can push away much darkness, so too, every mitzvah we perform brings spiritual light to the world and pushes away much darkness.

This is the lesson of the Chanukah lights. Each of the Chanukah lights has to consist of a single wick. One is not permitted to link a few wicks together, for then it becomes a flame, and a flame is not qualified for performing the mitzvah of Chanukah candles.

A flame may give more light, but Chanukah teaches us the importance of the individual. The miracle of Chanukah, as we say in the Al Hanisim prayer, was when a small army of “few” overpowered the army of “many.”

It is not the quantity which makes a difference in the victory of good over evil, rather it is the quality.

Chanukah teaches us that each one counts. Each one of us can accomplish so much, and for that matter has the responsibility to be a shining light to illuminate our surroundings.

Today, the 19th day of Kislev, is the day when the first Chabad Rabbi, Rabbi Shneur Zalmen, was released from Czarist prison for his role in spreading the light of Torah. The illumination of his Torah teachings has been shining throughout the world ever since. Indeed, just like the individual Chanukah lights, one person can make a tremendous impact even on a global scale.

Chanukah also teaches us that one cannot be satisfied with yesterday’s accomplishments. Each night we add an additional candle. Although, one small light was enough yesterday, the next day we have to increase in our efforts and bring more light into the world.

During the great blackout of November 1965, when the electric circuits went dead from Canada to as far south as Baltimore, New York was pitch black.

Max was in his Brooklyn apartment screwing in a light bulb into the socket, when suddenly the power failed.  His wife jumped up, ran over to the window and saw that everywhere, the entire city as far as she could see, was pitch-black.

“Max,” she wailed, “look what you did!”

Perhaps Max didn’t have any effect on the blackout in New York, but each of us can have some impact. Every mitzvah we do kindles a spiritual light which pushes away much of the darkness and makes this world a brighter and better world.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY