As the popular TYH song goes: It’s dark outside, but it’s light in here. Chanukah is here!
Many of us have been privileged to learn the story of Chanukah from our parents, Morahs, and Rebbeim, and after hearing the story of Chanukah a couple of times, we might think we know everything there is to know about Chanukah. However, the older we get and the more we start to really think through the events of Chanukah, the more we end up realizing that the story of Chanukah is more than just the frosting on the donut, and that there’s so much for us to learn from so many different things that happened — and continue to happen — every year on Chanukah. I’d like to share with you some of those things, and, b’ezras Hashem, we won’t just be celebrating Chanukah this year, we’ll be fully experiencing Chanukah and everything it has to offer us.
Inside Vs. Outside
Reb Shmuel Munkes, who was one of the talmidim of the Baal Hatanya, was once traveling to see his Rebbe. Being that it was a long journey, and it was the middle of winter, he bundled up as much as he could and started walking. After walking for a while through the snowy forests, he was spotted by a wagon driver who asked where he was going. As it turned out, the wagon driver was heading in the same direction, toward the Baal Hatanya, so he offered Reb Shmuel a ride. Reb Shmuel hopped into the back of the wagon, which was filled with barrels, and the journey continued.
As they traveled, the wagon driver noticed how much Reb Shmuel was shivering, so he told him to pop open one of the barrels and to take a sip of the whiskey that was there to warm himself up. Reb Shmuel was very thankful as he took a drink and felt much better. Soon they arrived in the Rebbe’s town, and Reb Shmuel went in to see his Rebbe. Oddly enough, instead of sitting down to stay with the Rebbe, he greeted his Rebbe and then asked for a bracha for the trip home. The Rebbe was surprised that Reb Shmuel was leaving so soon after such a long journey. Reb Shmuel explained that he had wanted to come to the Rebbe to get chizuk, but that he had already gotten what he was coming for along the way. When he started off in the wagon, he was freezing. He was surrounded by whiskey with the ability to warm him up, but being surrounded by it didn’t do anything. It was only once he put it inside himself that he felt the warmth. The Rebbe appreciated this lesson that Reb Shmuel shared.
Chanukah is a holiday that involves the outside, as we put our menorahs by a window or by a doorway so that others can see the lights. But we need to remember that while it’s awesome to be surrounded by the light, by learning Torah and doing mitzvos, we take it to the next level and bring the light INSIDE of ourselves!
Learning from the Menorah
Take a moment to think about your family, your friends, your neighbors and the people you daven with at your shul. There are so many different types of Yidden. Different backgrounds, customs, colors, accents, etc. But when you look at a group of menorahs, you’ll notice that there’s a similarity. Every menorah is different. Some are silver, aluminum, gold, or plastic, and some might even be lighting a row of candles that were melted straight onto the table! Take a look at all the menorahs, and what do you see? That no matter how different each menorah might look, when they are lit, they all have the same flames above them. No matter how many different flavors of Yidden there might be in the world, we all are zoche to that same light.
There is another way that we are similar to candles. The Rambam tells us that a neshama can be referred to as a flame. When someone feels sad, it might feel like everything around them is gloomy and dark. But with our neshama, with our flame, we can help to “light” that other person by spending time with them, and helping them. The best part is that, similar to a candle that doesn’t lose any of its flame when it lights another candle, when we help another Yid to get out of his darkness, we don’t lose any of our own light. Not only that, but we even gain more light because of the HUGE mitzvah that we just did.
We all know the story of Noach and the Mabul, but did you know that when the rains stopped, it was during the week of Chanukah? In fact, there’s even another connection to Chanukah, because the dove that Noach sent out of the teiva brought back an olive branch, a hint to the olive oil that would be used many years later on Chanukah to light the Menorah! The lesson we can learn is this: After so much darkness and rain, it may have seemed to Noach and his family like it would never end. However, the dove and olive branch coming back to the teiva showed Noach that the answer is to look forward and not to think about the past. The dove was a sign that it was time to start fresh and new, regardless of what had happened before. Chanukah is a time for us to start fresh! We can use the long winter nights and longer Shabbos to learn more Torah with Tzadikim, to spend special time with our families, and to be the best person we can be! This is a time of miracles!
The Dreidel
Whether or not your dreidel is made out of clay, there is something really amazing we can learn from it. The Skulener Rebbe teaches us that the word “dreidel” is holy! The Rebbe said that with one Drei (Turn), a person can oisdreyin (turn away) from all of his problems. With just a little turn, we can go in a better direction and be happier. There are those who know how to do tricks with a dreidel, spinning it upside down, or spinning it on a board and throwing it up in the air and catching it while it still spins, but no matter how skilled the spinner, you can never determine what letter the dreidel will land on. This is how a Yid lives as well. We spin, we do our hishtadlus, but we know that everything that happens is being controlled by Hashem, our loving Father. Once we know that, we know that no matter what happens, whether we feel we’ve gotten a Gimmel, or even if we get a Shin, we can be happy knowing that it’s all good for us. Hashem is the one who is making the turns, and we can take comfort in that.
Eyes Filled With Light
Rashi tells us in Parshas Bereishis that when Hashem created the world, He created a brilliant light called the “Ohr Haganuz.” This light was hidden away for the Tzadikim when Mashiach comes. We learn that some of this light can be seen through the lights of the menorah. This is why many people — and especially Tzadikim — have the custom of staring at the lights after they light their menorah. The Nikolsberger Rebbe, Rabbi Jungreis reminds us what is said in Pirkei Avos: “Every Yid’s a Big Tzadik!” With that in mind, we should emulate the Tzadikim and take some time after lighting to look at the flames. We might even be zoche to catch a glimpse of the Ohr Haganuz!
Thank You!
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov teaches that the Days of Chanukah are days of giving thanks and that this is the simcha of Olam Haba! We see that it’s so important to give thanks, and Chanukah is a great time to do it! We can say “thank you” to our Rebbeim, our Morahs, our friends, our siblings, our parents, and of course Hashem! Reb Nosson (the Talmud Muvhak of Rebbe Nachman) explains that the best way to do this is to start by thinking of all the good that has happened to us throughout our lives and to thank Hashem for each thing that we think of, one by one. You might think we should single out only big things, but every little thing is a reason to thank Hashem. We can thank Hashem for a house to live in, a yeshiva to learn in, and food to eat, but we can also thank Hashem for our shoes, our toys, and our books. After lighting the menorah, singing, and watching the candles, we can take a look around the room we’re in and find so many more things to thank Hashem for. Every single thing that we thank Hashem for helps us appreciate the amazing gifts that Hashem gives us every day!
Especially during these special days of Chanukah, let’s try to increase our simcha and our appreciation to Hashem for all the amazing things He gives us!
A Freilichen Chanukah!
Thank You Hashem!
The best way to say “thank you” is to start by thinking of all the good that has happened to us throughout our lives and to thank Hashem for each thing that we think of, one by one.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 62 Chanukah.
