24 Dec CHANUKAH POWER

As we get ready for
the very sweet festival of
Chanukah, it behooves us
to brush-up on its spiritual
messages. In this way, we
can ensure that it doesn’t
become a mere season of
gastronomic delight such
as latkas and sufgoniot
(jelly doughnuts) nor will we fall into the
trap of allowing Chanukah to become, chas
v’shalom, an Xmas look-alike.
A common thread that runs through most
of the amazing events of Chanukah is the
element of mesiras nefesh, self-sacrifice, of
the valorous Jews during the memorable era
of the Chashmanoim. Whether it was the rabim
b’yad m’atim, the many in the hands of the
few, giborim b’yad chaloshim, the mighty

in the hands of the weak, the heroic self-
sacrifice of the brave Macabees to defend the

Holy Temple and the lives of their brethren
from the wicked Syrian-Greeks, whether it
was the legendary Chanah and her seven
sons who, with amazing courage, chose
death rather than bow down to Antiochus
haRasha’s idol, or the zealous search of the
Kohanim to find a single jar of oil with the
seal of the Kohein Gadol, a search that can be
compared to looking for a needle in a haystack
when the could have allowed themselves the
Talmudic heter, allowance, of tumah hutra
b’tzibor, that when the entire congregation is
contaminated, one can use even defiled oil, but
they demonstrated amazing mesiras nefesh in
passionately wanting to fulfill the mitzvah in
its best possible way. Or, the amazing valor
of the daughter of the Kohein Gadol who,
instead of succumbing to the wickedness of the
Syrian-Greek governor, protected her Jewish
modesty with an incredible act of bravery,
killing the wicked official and jump-starting
the Jewish conquest.
Chanukah therefore is a time to take stock
in whether we have this element of mesiras
nefesh in our spiritual lives. When we are
tired, do we still push ourselves to get up
early to make minyan – or do we succumb to
temptation and say our prayers quickly at home
before dashing off to work? Do we exercise
self-sacrifice in pushing ourselves to attend a
shiur after a hard days work – or do we cave
in to our physical laziness and just go home
and read the paper?
In this area, Chanukah should jog us to
make a reality check. Is there an element of
mesiras nefesh in our relationships with our
children? Do we find the time – although
there is never enough time – to take interest
in our children’s learning, in their character
development, in their personal happiness? All
of these objectives are mitzvahs of the highest
priority, since if we, their parents don’t attend

to these needs, who will?
Do we have the spiritual bounce our steps
to use a Sunday or any day off to provide
pleasure for our spouse – thereby ensuring the
Shechina will permeate our homes? Mesiras
nefesh doesn’t only mean putting your life
on the line for your spiritual beliefs. Rather,
anytime we push ourselves beyond our natural
physical tendencies in order to fulfill the will
of Hashem, we are following in the footsteps
of the great Macabees, the heroes of Chanukah.
The Aleinu Leshabei-ach, tells a fascinating
story about the venerable Rav Shach, Zt”l,
Zy”a. Rav Shach, already a very old man,
had to spend some time at the hospital. One
day, he informed his family that he desired
to go one floor down to visit a man who was
also staying at the hospital. Rav Shach knew
had known that this man was treating his wife
poorly. He wanted to talk to him once again
about adopting better marital behavior. The
family was aghast as Rav Shach was ill and
very aged, yet he wanted to get up from his
sick bed and go down a flight of stairs all for
a shalom bais discussion. Despite their pleas,
Rav Shach was adamant. They then suggested
that instead of Rav Shach going downstairs,
they would ask the man to come up to Rav
Shach’s room. This too, he vehemently vetoed.
At this point, when reading this story, I
thought to myself that Rav Shach’s reason
probably was that he was banking on the
impression he would make on the man by
leaving his sickbed and trekking downstairs.
Perhaps this act would impress him to realize
the severity and importance of the issue! This
just shows how little I understand the minds
of our gedolim. Rav Shach went on to explain
why he insisted on going down to the room
himself. He elaborated that he had worked on
this couple’s marriage many times to no avail
and therefore he felts that perhaps if he took
heroic measures to be moser nefesh – to get out
of his sick bed to help save a marriage, Hashem
would see his self-sacrifice and perhaps, in that
merit, bless his efforts with success.
This vignette introduces an entirely new
angle to mesiras nefesh. Sometimes a spouse
says, ‘Why should I go through so much
trouble? My mate won’t appreciate it anyway?’
or a parent thinks, ‘Why am I investing so
much energy in this child. She or he just takes it
for granted?’ Even if these conjectures are true,
the superhuman effort might still be effective
for Hashem might take note of this additional
exertion and in that merit might bless us with
Divine assistance at succeeding in our marriage
or in the chinuch of our child.
In the merit of our mesiras nefesh – both
small and large examples, may Hashem bless
us with long life good health and everything
wonderful.
Here are some tips for the days ahead.

• Chazal teach us that the
last day of Chanukah is
the final “gmar din.” Since
this is so, the month before
it is like an Elul and can
be used wisely for a final
chance at teshuvah and
making peace with people.
• Chazal teach us “Gedola
mitzvah b’shaata – Great
is a mitzvah in its proper
time.” As this is the case,
we should make every
effort, when possible, to
light the Chanukah candles
in the proper time; forty-five minutes after
sunset (according to most opinions). At the
very least, we should try hard to do this on
Motzei Shabbos and Sunday!
• Although family gatherings are a delicious
part of Chanukah, they should be planned
around the lighting of the neiros in the
proper tine – and not the other way around!
It is okay to blow out the candles after they
have remained lit for the shiur – and then
one can go to join family, parents, children,
friends and neighbors.
• Great care should be exercised with the
hadlaka on Erev Shabbos. The lighting
should be done leaving ample time for the
women to make their eighteen minutes
before shkia hadlaka. It is preferable to
daven Mincha after the hadlaka if that will
help ensure that everyone will light on time!
Remember chilul Shabbos takes priority
over any aspect of lighting the candles!
• When children are around, never to leave
the candles unattended – especially on Friday
night! Also remember to keep the neiros
away from the drapes.
• The Gemora in Shabbos informs us, “Kol
haragil b’neir havyan lo banim talmidei
chachomim – Whoever is careful with
candles will have children who are Torah
sages.” In part, this refers to the mitzvah
of Chanukah candles. Thus, the stakes are
high to do this lofty mitzvah in the most
beautiful way possible. Having a nice
menorah, keeping it clean, putting it in
the right location, saying the blessing with
proper kavanah (concentration), and gazing
at the candles and wicks, contemplating the
great miracles of the Chashmanaim era,
are all part of the meaningful fulfillment
of this mitzvah.
• According to many Chassidic masters, the
custom of Chanukah gelt is an opportunity
to teach children to give tzedaka from their
own money.
• Latkes and sufgoniot are the standard
scrumptious Chanukah fare. This is because
they are prepared with oil and therefore
help to commemorate the great miracle

of oil on Chanukah. In addition, it is an
excellent idea to introduce cheese platters at
a Chanukah banquet. This commemorates
the miracle that occurred with the daughter
of Mattisyahu, Kohen Gadol (Medrash
Maseh Chanukah). When the Syrian
Greek governor abducted her, she got him
thirsty using salty cheese. She then plied
the thirsty rasha with strong wine, which
lulled him to sleep. Subsequently, she killed
him, which was one of the miracles that
led to the Jewish conquest of the Yevonim.
• The fast of Asara B’Teves commemorates
the terrible event of the wicked
Nevuchadnetzar setting siege to
Yerushalayim. In a way, in our time the
Arabs are also setting siege to Eretz Yisroel
– and we should use this fast as a catalyst
to pray for our brethren there, and for the
speedy coming of Moshiach tzidkeinu!