B"H

Monday, Kislev 18, 5776 / November 30, 2015 – HAKHEL YEAR

Chanukah begins next week, Sunday night, December 6th, and extends for eight days.

Chanukah commemorates the miracle of the oil in the Holy Temple, when a small flask, which had enough oil for only one day, miraculously lasted for eight days.

The first night of Chanukah, we light one candle. Each night of Chanukah we add an additional candle until the eighth night, when we light all eight candles.

The eighthnight of Chanukah is always the same night of the week as the firstnight. Thus, this year when the first night of Chanukah is Sunday night, the eighth night will be Sunday night one week later.

Before lighting the Chanukah candles we light one candle, called “Shamesh.” With the Shamesh we light the Chanukah candles. Then we place the Shamesh candle in the Menorah, but not in the same row as the Chanukah candles, to make it obvious that it is not one of the Chanukah candles.

Q.   Is Chanukah a Biblical holiday, or a rabbinical holiday?

A.  Chanukah and Purim are rabbinical holidays.  The miracle of Chanukah took place about 1200 years after the Giving of the Torah. It was established by the sages to commemorate the miracle of the oil.  

Q.Which holiday came first, Chanukah or Purim?

A.  The miracle of Purim took place between the first and second Temples, while Jews were in Exile. The miracle of Chanukah happened during the time of the Second Temple - 200 years after the miracle of Purim.  

Q.  As mentioned, Purim and Chanukah are both rabbinical holidays, why is the "Hallel" recited on Chanukah and not on Purim?

A.  The miracle of Chanukah took place in the Temple in the Holy Land while the miracle of Purim took place in Persia.  Hallel is recited for miracles which happened in the Land of Israel.

Another reason is that for Purim they established the reading of the Megilah, which tells the story of the miracle of Purim. Reading the story of the miracle is our praise to G-d for this miracle. Since on Chanukah there is no Megilah reading, we recite the Hallel, which praises G-d for the  miracle. 

Q.  Why do we light an extra candle each night, called the "Shamesh"?

A.  We are prohibited to have any personal use from the Chanukah lights. Thus, by having the extra candle, if we forget and benefit from the light of the menorah, it will be from the Shamesh and not from the Chanukah lights.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY