Weekly Dvar Torah: Chanukah Equals Education

It was Chanukah 5748 (1987), the year of Hakhel after the kindling of the first Chanukah candle at 770 by the Rebbe’s Minyan. Suddenly the Rebbe asked for the microphone to say a few words.

After a long introduction about how we don’t find any precedent by any of the Rebbeiim to hold a farbrengen or similar gathering on Chanukah, and that they all lit their Menorah’s in private. The Rebbe concludes that since there is a crowd gathered here now who wants to hear a few words from me, history should have no bearing, and I will talk.

This hit the crowd like a bombshell. The Rebbe who always taught us about following the tradition of our Rebbe’s, dismisses it all just because he knows that this is what we Chassidim really want.

And what a rewarding Chanukah it was. For each of the eight days the Rebbe spoke to us and he illuminated us with the daily message of Chanukah.

The year of Hakhel demands that every opportunity that we get we should use to gather to strengthen Yiddishkeit, the Rebbe said, especially on Chanukah, for a Mitzvah is a candle and the Torah is light; both lead us to the fear of Hashem.

In addition, every day has its own unique quality and identity, that gives us a very specific message and inspiration from that day for the rest of the year.

The first day is the opening of the holiday, we light the first candle and we make Shehecheyanu for the entire holiday. We also read in the Torah about the tribal princes who in unison decided to bring the offerings for the inauguration of the Mishkan. These are general principles that affect the entire holiday. Specifically, when on the first day we read about the prince of Yehuda, Nachshon ben Aminadav. He was the first to jump into the sea of reeds with total self-sacrifice, and as a result of his actions the sea split. From day one we get the energy to rise above it all with self-sacrifice.

Day two is the first day that we add in light, two candles, and the rest of the days follow by adding light each day. And the prince of the day is Issachar, the tribe that was all engrossed in the study of Torah. This energizes us to strengthen out devotion to the study of Torah, and to keep adding in light.

Day three brings candle number 3, which enables peace, like when two disagree, the third party resolves their differences and makes peace. The prince of the day is Zvulun, the businessman, the one who gives charity and who partnered with his brother to support his Torah study with the earnings of his business travels. Number three also reflects peace between the Torah scholar and the businessman, for they respect each other for their role in serving Hashem. This inspires us to realize that we study for the purpose of action, to do Mitzvos like supporting Torah, so the study is for action and the action is to support Torah study. Issachar is inside studying, while Zevulun does business traveling the world and lighting up the outside with the Torah. The candles of Chanukah are meant to light up the outside world. Hence the inspiration that even when on the outside, you can still illuminate.

Day four is the day of Reuven. He was the first one to do Teshuva on his own volition, when he realized that he sinned against his father. This empowers us to return to Hashem even if we feel that we lost our way, just like the lights of Chanukah that illuminate even the darkest places.

Day five is the first time that the majority of the Menorah is kindled. The prince is Shimon, from the word of listening. The message is that even if you are distant and you can’t see but you can only hear, even you can come close to Hashem, just like in Hakhel we get close to G-d when we come to listen.

Day six always falls on Rosh Chodesh, and the prince is Gad. Rosh Chodesh is the promise of renewal, and Gad is the name of good Mazal, good luck. Every Jew knows he is blessed from the Mazal of the infinity of G-d, a most reassuring position to find oneself knowing that Hashem is always there for you, giving you the best chance for renewal.

Day seven is Efraim, named for being fruitful and productive even in a place of exile. This helps us illuminate the darkness of Galus and bring about the salvation through Moshiach.

Day eight is the culmination of Chanukah, mission accomplished. On day eight we also sum up the entire service of dedicating the Mishkan by all the princes from all the tribes.

Chanukah is about the number eight.

In the Beis Hamikdash the Menorah had 7 branches and the Chanukah Menorah has 8 branches. The harp in the Beis Hamikdash had seven strands, and the harp of Moshiach will have eight strands.

Seven represents the natural cycle and order, and number eight represents above and beyond nature. Moshiach will take us to a state which is above and beyond nature, he will bring us to the infinite light of hashem. This is what Chanukah leads us to by lighting the 8 Chanukah candles.

What a wealth of information and empowerment the Rebbe shared with us by breaking tradition, and the reason he told us, was because he saw that we wanted to hear him.

What a lesson in education.

Have an educated and illuminated Shabbos,
Gut Shabbos, Happy Chanukah and a Gut Chodesh

Rabbi Yosef Katzman