B"H
Monday, Tevet 2, 5776 / December 14, 2015 – HAKHEL YEAR
HAPPY 8th & last day of CHANUKAH. Chanukah is celebrated eight days, remembering the miracle of the oil, when they found a small flask containing undefiled pure olive oil, enough to light the menorah for one day. G-d performed a miracle and the small one day supply lasted for eight days with which they lit the menorah in the Holy Temple.
The lessons of Chanukah, although we celebrate only eight days of the year, should be carried forth and applied to every day of the year.
Here is one lesson which we can learn from the answer to the following question:
Q.If there was enough oil for one day in the small flask, then the fact that it lasted eight days was only a seven day miracle, as naturally, without the miracle, there was enough oil for one day. So, why do we celebrate Chanukah eight days, as if it was an eight day miracle?
A.The fact that the small flask of oil was originally sealed with the seal of the High Priest; that it wasn’t found by the Greeks and thus not defiled and then found in its original state was a great miracle. Although, it may have seemed that for one day they didn’t need the miracle, yet, if we think about it, we see that this in itself was also a great miracle.
This is why we celebrate eight days. We consider every day and every event, even those which seem natural, a miracle. This lesson we must carry throughout the year. Chanukah teaches us to view the natural events in life, our every day-to-day normal happenings in life, as miracles.
Max was on his way to a job interview. It was the job of a lifetime. It would be the fulfillment of his lifelong dream and a guarantee to a successful future. He drove up to the office building in mid Manhattan, but there was no parking. He drove around the block a few times, but not one parking space was available. It was getting late and he couldn’t afford to be late for this interview. With only five minutes left, he was desperate! He looked up to heaven and said, “Oh G-d, PLEASE help me find a parking spot. If You help me now, I promise that I will put on Teffilin every day!!
No sooner did he finish his prayer when all of a sudden a car pulled out right in front of him and he had a perfect parking place right in front of the building. He was delighted. He was going to make his appointment! But as he was pulling into the space, he looks up to heaven and exclaimed, “G-d, forget the deal.. I just found a parking place on my own!
The eight days of Chanukah is a lesson that even events which seem, so to say, natural, are G-dly miracles, which we should appreciate for what they truly are.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & HAPPY CHANUKAH
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In loving memory of Beatrice Cons – Bracha bat Asher – of blessed memory
May her Nrshama-soul have an aliya. May she rest in peace in Gan Eden.
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