B"H
Tuesday, Kislev 23, 5785 / December 24, 2024
Chanukah begins this Wednesday night (Dec. 25) with the lighting of the first Chanukah light. Each night of Chanukah we add an additional candle over the night before. The second night of Chanukah we light two candles, the third night three and so on. On the last night of Chanukah, eight candles are lit.
In addition to commemorating the miracle of the oil by lighting the Chanukah lights, it is customary to eat on Chanukah various foods which are made with oil (doctor permitting). For example, “Latkes,” a potato blend, fried in oil or doughnuts, baked in oil, etc., as the miracle of Chanukah happened with oil.
Q. Why is it customary to distribute “Chanukah Gelt” (Chanukah money) to the children, during Chanukah?
A. One of the decrees by the Greeks, at the time of Chanukah, was the prohibition to study and teach Torah. We give the children “Chanukah Gelt” to encourage them to study more and more Torah, as this too was part of the miracle of Chanukah that this decree was rescinded.
Q. Why do many people use olive oil to light the Chanukah Menorah?
A. In the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple) only pure olive oil was used for the Menorah. Because the Chanukah lights commemorate the miracle of the menorah in the Holy Temple, many people use olive oil to perform this mitzvah as it was performed in the Holy Temple.
Q. Why, in addition to the Chanukah candles, do we light an extra candle, called, "Shamesh," each night?
A. We are prohibited from having any personal use from the Chanukah lights. The extra candle, the Shamesh, serves that in case we forget and benefit from the light of the menorah, it will be from the "Shamesh."
Q. Why was olive oil used for the lighting of the menorah in the Holy Temple?
A. Our sages explain that there is a very important lesson in this. According to the Midrash, the Jewish people are compared to the olive. Just like the olive produces its fine oil when it is squeezed, so too, the people of Israel have produced the greatest scholars and performed great accomplishments under pressure, especially the pressures in time of exile.
The Chanukah lights, which are kindled at night - at the time of darkness, teach us not to despair when things seem dark physically and spiritually.
The Chanukah candles remind us that just like the oil of the olive is produced through squeezing and pressing of the olives, so it is also with the Jewish people. It is the challenging situation which we were forced into, which so often brought out the best in us and capabilities we never knew we possessed!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW