09 Dec VAYEISHEV: THE “OPTIONAL” CHANUKKAH PARTY

The Shulchan Aruch (Orah
Haim 670:2) writes:
“The extra meals that people
add [during Chanukkah] are
optional meals, because they
[the Rabbis] did not institute
them [these days] as [a time of]

feasting and rejoicing.”
According to halacha, there is no obligation
whatsoever to have special meals or eat
special foods on Chanukkah. The celebration
of Chanukkah starkly contrasts in this regard
with the celebration of Purim, when there is a
mitzvah to have a special meal, no less an
obligation than the obligation to hear the
Megillah reading or to send mishloah manot.
On Chanukkah, the mitzvot we are required to
observe are the nightly candle lighting, and to
express praise and gratitude to Hashem for the
great miracle of the Jews’ victory over the
Greeks and the miracle of the oil in the
menorah. There is no mitzvah to have a
special meal, or to have a Chanukkah party.
Several explanations have been given for this
distinction between Chanukkah and Purim.
One explanation is given by the Levush, who
writes that the danger we faced at the time of
the Chanukkah story was much different from
the danger we faced at the time of the Purim
story. Haman wanted to destroy the Jewish

People, whereas the Greeks wanted to destroy
the Jewish religion. The Greeks did not want
to kill the Jews; they wanted the Jews to stop
practicing their religion, and to adopt the
Greeks’ beliefs, culture and lifestyle. Haman
was just the opposite – he wanted to kill all
the Jews, regardless of what they did or how
they acted. Therefore, the Levush explains, on
Purim, when we were physically threatened,
we celebrate through physical expressions of
joy – eating and drinking. On Chanukkah, we
were threatened spiritually, and so we
celebrate through spiritual means – lighting
candles and reciting Hallel to give praise to
Hashem.
Despite this, as we know, Chanukkah is
traditionally celebrated with feasting.
“Chanukkah parties” have become an integral
part of the Hanukah experience. Families get
together for eating, fun, and exchanging gifts.
Although the Shulchan Aruch clearly ruled
that parties are not required on Chanukkah,
this has become the norm.
In truth, the Shulchan Aruch himself appears
to acknowledge that this practice was common
already in his time. The Hiddushei Ha’Rim
points out that the Shulchan Aruch does not
simply write that there is no obligation to eat
festive meals on Chanukkah. Instead, the
Shulhan Aruch writes that the extra meals that

people eat are optional. It seems clear that this
was something that people did already in the
Shulchan Aruch’s time, and he was just
clarifying that this is not strictly required
according to halachah.
The Hiddushei Ha’Rim explains that Hashem
wants our parties and festive meals on
Chanukkah to come from our hearts, from our
own initiative, and not from a sense of
halachic obligation. The Bet Ha’mikdash was
ransacked and defiled by the Greeks, and it
was then rescued, purified, and rededicated.
This should generate such joy and excitement
within us that we should automatically rejoice
and feast. The Hiddushei Ha’Rim draws an
analogy to a poor, downtrodden, lonely
peasant, who suddenly discovered that he
would be marrying the princess. Does he need
to be told to have a festive celebration? We
were downtrodden and alone, without the Bet
Ha’mikdash, and without the opportunity to
learn Torah or perform mitzvot – until,
miraculously, we defeated the Greeks so we
could once again have a relationship with
Hashem. This should evoke such joy that we
celebrate without a halachic obligation to do
so!
The Chanukkah candles are lit during the
darkest, dreariest time of year, symbolizing
our nation’s remarkable ability to shine

brightly even under the most difficult
circumstances. We have always faced great
challenges, of many different kinds, and yet,
despite all the hardship, and despite our many
faults, we always shine. Torah learning and
observance have survived against all odds,
and we continue to show our love and
devotion to one another, aways rising to the
occasion when a fellow Jew is in need. On
Chanukkah, when we see the lights shining in
the dark, and we contemplate the bright light
of Am Yisrael, we are driven to celebrate and
feast even without being obligated to do so.
We are overcome with joy and pride, and with
gratitude to Hashem for the miraculous
survival of Torah throughout the millennia.
Feasting on Chanukkah may be optional – but
we do it because there’s no way we can’t feast
when we see the Chanukkah lights and think
about the greatness of our nation, how brightly
we shine, with Hashem’s help. We are
naturally drawn to joyously celebrate our
spiritual survival and achievements even in
the face of adversity, from the time of the
Greeks until our day.