05 Dec THE MESSAGE OF THE CHANUKAH LECHT

The Kav HaYashar (96)
writes, “Every candle
that is lit for a mitzvah
is extremely holy. If we
had ruach hakadosh,
we would perceive the
future when we light
those candles. They
tell us prophecy and
resemble the times
that the navi spoke and
told us what he heard
from Hashem’s mouth.
In the introduction to
Yam Shel Shlomo, the
Maharshal writes,
‘Once, via a candle lit
for a mitzvah, Heaven
encouraged me and told me that [He is happy
with my studies and my sefarim]…’ The
Maharshal was writing his sefer, Yam Shel
Shlomo. He had a tiny candle burning in front
of him, and it was about to burn out, but it
continued burning for several hours… The
Maharshal understood from this candle that
Hashem was with him,” and Hashem was
happy with his studies and with his seforim.
The Kav HaYashar writes, “The miracle that
occurred to the Maharshal was similar to the
miracle of Chanukah, which happened in the
Beis HaMikdash. His merit should protect us.
He is fortunate, as are his parents who gave
birth to him.”
One night, Rebbe Shmelke of Nikolsburg zy’a
was learning Torah by candlelight and a gust
of wind blew out the candle. He didn’t have a
match to light it, so he went onto the porch to
see if someone was passing by and could light
his candle. Someone arrived, lit his candle,
and Rebbe Shmelke went back inside to study
Torah. Sometime later, Rebbe Shmelke
thought to himself, “How did he light my
candle? I was on the porch of the second
floor!” He realized that Eliyahu HaNavi came
to light his candle, so he could continue
learning.
The Alter of Navardok zt’l had a small hut in
the forest where he studied Torah and mussar.
One night, his lamp blew out, and he needed
more oil. The Alter of Navardok told himself,
“If Hashem desires it, He can send me
someone with oil. Everything is possible. I
trust that Hashem will help…” Since one is
obligated to do histhadlus, he opened the door.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw a man
passing by. “Do you have oil?” He did, and he
gave it to the Alter. The Alter was able to study
Torah and mussar for the rest of the night.
In the morning, the Alter took the oil that
remained, and he stored it, so he could always
remember the miracle that Hashem performed
for him.
Once, there was a fire in his home, and the jar
of oil was consumed in the fire. The Alter said
he was happy that this happened because
“Why should I remember this episode more
than all the other miracles Hashem performs
for me? Every moment of life is filled with
miracles.”
As we wrote above from the Kav HaYashar,
the lamps tell prophecies, like a navi
prophesizing what he heard from Hashem. We
don’t have ruach hakodesh to understand the

messages, but one is clear and true: The lecht
tell us that Hashem loves us and He wants our
Torah and mitzvos. Hashem lowers Himself
even under the ten tefachim to reach us and
draw us up again.