The Light of the Truth
The lighting of the Chanukkah candles is seemingly superficial. Nevertheless the matter points to something deep. But what is it? The lighting of the candles is said to be for Pirsuma Nissa, the publication of the miracle. What would the miracle be? According to straightforward thinking, the miracle would be the events which occurred in the time of the Chashmona'im, the wonderful victory against the Greeks, or the (non-historical) miracle of the oil which lasted eight days.
But, the miracle of our days is so much bigger. What miracle? The state of Israel is the miracle. It is more than a Agada, it is history. Now, we don't have the right perspective yet, because the Exile is still with us, in us. But the Light of the Big Aleph, the Truth, will shine the Exile out of existence, and that is the ultimate reason for the celebration of Chanukkah. The Light comes step by step, like the light of the Channukah candle. Think about the Light of the Truth being revealed when you light the candles.
On the 24th of Kislev, tonight, we have Petach Chanukkah, one day before the lighting of Chanukkah begins according to Halacha. With the arrival of Petach Chanukkah, we light only the Shamash, or one candle, without any Berachah. And we think about the Light of the Truth, which will melt away the coldness in our hearts. And we spread symbolically the Light of the Truth, on the days of Chanukkah, by spreading the light of the Shamash to the other candles.
Chag Chanukkah Sameach!
But, the miracle of our days is so much bigger. What miracle? The state of Israel is the miracle. It is more than a Agada, it is history. Now, we don't have the right perspective yet, because the Exile is still with us, in us. But the Light of the Big Aleph, the Truth, will shine the Exile out of existence, and that is the ultimate reason for the celebration of Chanukkah. The Light comes step by step, like the light of the Channukah candle. Think about the Light of the Truth being revealed when you light the candles.
On the 24th of Kislev, tonight, we have Petach Chanukkah, one day before the lighting of Chanukkah begins according to Halacha. With the arrival of Petach Chanukkah, we light only the Shamash, or one candle, without any Berachah. And we think about the Light of the Truth, which will melt away the coldness in our hearts. And we spread symbolically the Light of the Truth, on the days of Chanukkah, by spreading the light of the Shamash to the other candles.
Chag Chanukkah Sameach!
וַיְהִי דְבַר-יְהוָה שֵׁנִית אֶל-חַגַּי, בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה לַחֹדֶשׁ לֵאמֹר. אֱמֹר, אֶל-זְרֻבָּבֶל פַּחַת-יְהוּדָה לֵאמֹר: אֲנִי מַרְעִישׁ, אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ. וְהָפַכְתִּי, כִּסֵּא מַמְלָכוֹת, וְהִשְׁמַדְתִּי, חֹזֶק מַמְלְכוֹת הַגּוֹיִם; וְהָפַכְתִּי מֶרְכָּבָה, וְרֹכְבֶיהָ, וְיָרְדוּ סוּסִים וְרֹכְבֵיהֶם, אִישׁ בְּחֶרֶב אָחִיו. בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא נְאֻם-יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֶקָּחֲךָ זְרֻבָּבֶל בֶּן-שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל עַבְדִּי, נְאֻם-יְהוָה, וְשַׂמְתִּיךָ, כַּחוֹתָם: כִּי-בְךָ בָחַרְתִּי, נְאֻם יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת