The Hidden Light of Chanuka Rabbi Hershel Reichman The Bnei Yissachar writes that Kislev contains writes that ner Chanukah is a very precious say in davening, “Ha'melamed Torah l’amo the secret of the ohr haganuz (the hidden mitzvah and one should be careful to perform Yisrael.” Rav Soloveitchik points out that it’s light). This is hinted to by the word Kislev, it in the best possible way. The general rule is written in present tense to teach us that which can be read as keis (concealed) lamed that if one would need to spend more than Hashem is continuously transmitting Torah to vav (36). During the first three days of 20% of his assets on a positive mitzvah, he is us directly and through our Torah teachers. creation, Hashem let this secret light shine for exempt from the mitzvah. However, for 36 hours before hiding it away for the tzadikim Chanukah candles, the Rambam says one While a scientist may limit wisdom to physical in the next world. The 36 lights of Chanuka should spend everything one has and if one reality, a musician knows that music is not just signify the 36 hours that the ohr haganuz has nothing one should collect charity or musical notes on a sheet of paper. There’s shone during creation. It was this special light borrow money. something beyond definition, a measure of that supplied the tiny cruse of pure oil with divine inspiration beyond the physics of sound, energy to burn for eight days. It was also this There’s a difference of opinions about when to that makes great music. And Torah is the miraculous light that sustained the flame of light the candles and how long the lights greatest of all music. When the Chashmonaim the ner tamid (western lamp) in the beit should burn. The Bnei Yissachar, citting the prevailed it was a defeat of Greek ideology. hamikdash. Every year when we kindle the Zohar and the Rambam, tell us to be very Chanukah lights we can tap into this careful about the mitzvah. Therefore, one The Bnei Yissachar says that the 36 hours of otherworldly light again. should try to light as early as possible and the ohr haganuz correspond to the 36 tractates have the lights burn as long as possible. After of the Talmud. The words ner (lamp), ohr The mitzvah of lighting Chanukah lights the Chanukah candles are lit, it is an (light), and meorot (lights), appear 36 times in allows every Jew to touch eternity, to grasp auspicious time to pray. the Torah. The light of Hashem is concealed in the ethereal light at the root of Hashem’s the Oral Torah and it is this eternal light which creation, stretching through history to the end The Bnei Yissachar writes that the ohr will empower techiat hameitim, heal all of time. The Zohar says that the force of haganuz is also hidden away in the Oral Torah. illnesses, and bring Mashiach. techiat hameitim (revival of the dead) will The Greek ideology worshiped human- come from the ohr haganuz. Therefore, a Jew centered wisdom. They denied revelation and The long nights of Chanukah are an who performs the mitzvah of ner Chanukah Divine Providence. In contrast, Judaism auspicious time to delve into the study of the with care, focus, and love will merit techiat teaches that Torah learning is a constant Oral Torah and halacha. May we merit that the hameitim because he will already be evolving process involving both our own hidden light of Chanukah illuminate our hearts connected to its hidden source. The Rambam thinking and divine inspiration. Every day we and minds. visit us online at: www.naaleh.com | For questions or comments please email [email protected].