Since the holiday of Chanukah is nearing, let us begin discussing the pertinent laws.
The Mitzvot of Chanukah
There are several Mitzvot associated with Chanukah: Incorporating “Al Ha’Nissim” and Hallel into the prayer, reading the Torah portions of the Nesi’im (prices of the tribes), the prohibition to fast or eulogize over Chanukah, the custom of women not to work (as we shall discuss), the Chanukah meals, and the customary foods related to Chanukah.
Publicization of the Miracle
The most notable of all of the Mitzvot on Chanukah is the lighting of the Chanukah candles. There are many laws related to this Mitzvah which we shall, G-d-willing, discuss.
We must first understand that this holiday was established to commemorate the miracles Hashem performed for the Jewish people during the Second Temple era. There were no prophets in those times and therefore, the Sages of that generation and the generations that followed established all the Mitzvot pertaining to Chanukah.
The Mitzvah to light Chanukah candles was established to commemorate the miracle of the Menorah in the Bet Hamikdash. When the Hashmonai priestly family was finally victorious over the enemy and drove them out of the Bet Hamikdash, they entered the Holy Temple to search for a canister of pure oil which had not become ritually contaminated. After an extensive search, they were only able to find one jug of oil sealed with the mark of the Kohen Gadol; however, this was only enough to last for one day. It would take them eight days to produce new, pure olive oil for the Menorah since oil production took place far away, in the portion of Asher.
Hashem performed yet another miracle for them and this single jug of oil remained lit for all eight days. To commemorate this miracle, the Sages established the Mitzvah of lighting candles on all eight nights of Chanukah.
We must analyze what is so significant about this Mitzvah that so many candles are lit: every household and in some families, multiple people in the same household light as well. Would it not be more prudent for the Sages to institute that candles should be lit in every neighborhood or synagogue? Why did they specifically establish that candles must be lit in every house?
The Reason for Miracles
The Ramban in his commentary at the end of Parashat Bo sheds light on this question. There, he explains the reason behind every miracle Hashem has ever performed for the Jewish nation throughout the ages. Let us paraphrase his most profound words:
The essence of all miracles is that they cause Hashem’s divine presence, supervision, and intervention to be clearly visible. From the time people became worshiping idols and other deities, people’s philosophy of faith in Hashem became clouded. Some claimed that the world was ancient and devoid of a creator while others claimed there was a creator, however, he was not aware of what transpires in the world. There were others who claimed that Hashem takes no interest in our actions, similar to the fish in the sea who receive neither reward nor punishment. Yet others said that Hashem had left the world and no longer supervised it.
It is for this reason that Hashem performed miracles for our forefathers and continues to do so for us, for the supernatural nature of miracles dispels all of the aforementioned foolish theories. A miracle proves that there is an omnipotent creator of the world and he is likewise present, all-knowing, and constantly supervising what goes on in it.
However, Hashem does not perform open miracles in every generation in order to quell the claims of every wicked person and apostate. Hashem only does so in very rare cases. Nevertheless, Hashem commanded us to remember these miracles well at all times. When one believes in the open miracles Hashem has done for us, that leads to a realization of the concealed miracles in our lives as well. In the words of the Ramban, “One has no share in the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu until one believes that every matter and circumstance is miraculous, without a smattering of nature or happenstance at all!”
The Need to Light Candles
Based on the above, it seems that Hashem did not merely perform miracles only for the Hashmonai family and the Jewish people in those times to save them from their enemies, for Hashem could have saved the Jewish nation in natural ways as well. Rather, Hashem wished for this salvation to emerge in an openly miraculous fashion with regards to the Chanukah candles as well. This obligates us even more so to publicize Hashem’s miracles.
It is for this reason that the Sages established that Chanukah candles be lit in every house so that the lighting and blessings engender questions about what this comes to commemorate. This, in turn, will spur conversation about the miracles of Hashem and this will strengthen people’s faith in Hashem which is the very basis for all of the Mitzvot in the Torah.
This teaches us that if one has a personal miracle, there is a Mitzvah to publicize it among one’s family, especially during Chanukah. One should emphasize to one’s children Hashem’s boundless love and kindness to us and they, in turn, will be filled with an undying love and faith of Hashem. May we merit Hashem’s miracles once again and may we merit the Ultimate Redemption, Amen!
