Weekly Dvar Torah: Spreading Light Inside and Out
Chanukah is a time of miracles, symbolized by the menorah’s glowing lights and the oil-infused foods that we enjoy. From latkes to donuts, the festive foods remind us of the miracle of oil that occurred so many years ago. However, Chanukah is not just a celebration of physical oil; it also connects deeply to the spiritual oil of Torah, specifically the teachings of Chassidus.
Torah is compared to many things: bread, water, fruits, wine, and oil. Each metaphor highlights different aspects of Torah’s richness and function. Chassidus is compared to oil. Oil provides energy for candles to light up the surrounding, and Chassidus energizes and illuminates Torah. Oil is unique because it penetrates everything it touches while it continues to rise above all else. Similarly, Chassidic teachings infuse the entirety of Torah with life and joy, while it elevates its practice to an emotionally enriching experience. This comparison between Torah and oil ties the celebration of the New Year for Chassidus which we just celebrated a few days ago, with the festival of Chanukah. Both emphasize the transformative power of light and oil—literally and spiritually.
The menorah, lit in public spaces like Central London, epitomizes the spreading of this light. At the foot of the Duke of Wellington statue, across from Buckingham Palace, Jews gather to kindle the menorah and proclaim their enduring connection to Torah and its Divine source. Dr. Glaser, while reciting the blessings, declared, “We bring clarity and light where there is confusion.” This spirit of spreading light, even in a world of misunderstanding, encapsulates the essence of Chassidus and Chanukah alike.
The miracles of Chanukah, as recounted in the Al Hanissim prayer, highlight profound victories: the mighty defeated by the weak, the many by the few, and the impure by the pure. These are not just physical triumphs but spiritual ones. The Greeks sought to strip the Torah of its Divine essence, targeting core commandments like Shabbos and Bris Milah, which symbolize the eternal bond between G-d and the Jewish people. The Maccabees’ fight was not just for political freedom but for the sanctity of “Your (G-d’s) Torah” and “Your (G-d’s) will.”
This is why the miracle of the oil takes center stage in our celebrations. The discovery of a single jug of pure oil and its eight-day burn symbolize the victory of purity, righteousness, and Divine connection. Lighting the menorah daily, increasing the flames each night, reflects our commitment to spreading this spiritual light infinitely, as “a candle for one is a candle for a hundred.”
Chanukah also aligns beautifully with the themes of Chassidus. Just as oil enhances the taste of food and lights the candles, Chassidus penetrates every part of Torah, revealing its inner beauty and depth. Chassidus teaches us to view Torah and mitzvot as vibrant and joyous, bringing light into every aspect of life. However, just as one cannot drink oil on its own, Chassidus must be integrated with the foundational study of Chumash and Talmud to truly illuminate and transform.
The culmination of Kislev—a month filled with Chassidic holidays and farbrengens—naturally leads to Chanukah. The menorah’s lights symbolize the lessons of Chassidus becoming part of our very essence. Each added candle reflects our increasing ability to illuminate the world with the light of Torah.
Stories from around the globe highlight how this light spreads. In Tyumen, Siberia, where Stalin once sent Jews to die for their faith, Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik built a three-ton ice menorah. Despite temperatures of 40 below zero, the menorah’s lighting was broadcast live, touching millions worldwide. An Israeli TV anchor, moved to tears, recited “Amen” to the blessings, and a local Protestant minister revealed his Jewish heritage upon seeing the menorah.
From California, a Jewish traveler named Jay celebrated his first-ever bar mitzvah in freezing Siberia after connecting with Chabad. In Chengdu, China, a left-wing Israeli mother embraced her son after he kindled the menorah at a Chabad event. And in Kazakhstan, where the Rebbe’s father was once exiled for spreading the light of Torah, a giant menorah at the airport now welcomes visitors, a testament to the enduring light of Judaism.
This is the essence of Chanukah: increasing light day by day, illuminating the world with the joy and depth of Torah. The festival reminds us that miracles are not confined to the past. They continue to unfold as we bring the light of Chassidus and Torah into every corner of our lives.
I conclude with the words of the Rebbe when he blessed me for my birthday which falls on Chanukah: “May you take the lesson of Chanukah in which we add (in light) and progress (day after day) and illuminate. I share this blessing with all: May we all add light daily, as the menorah teaches us, and may that light spread infinitely, illuminating the world with clarity, warmth, and Divine connection.
Have a Divinely Illuminated Shabbos Chanukah,
Gut Shabbos, Happy Chanukah
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
