Chanukah: A Heavenly Symphony

Of all the Holidays, Chanukah stands out because it reveals a deeper part of our soul’s treasure than most other Holidays. This will dispel the myth that Chanukah is a minor holiday. A Holiday that can touch and kindle the soul of can touch soul of every Jew and reveal the uncontaminated core of every Jew is not minor.

Three Kinds of Jews

Miriam goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Chanukah cards and she says to the cashier, ‘May I have 50 Chanukah stamps?’

The cashier says, ‘What denomination?’

Miriam says, ‘Oy vey, has it come to this? OK, give me 6 Orthodox, 12 Conservative, and 32 Reform.’

In truth, there are three kinds of Jews.

There are Jews who don’t realize that that they are in possession of an exquisite treasure.

There are Jews who are aware of the existence of a treasure but have not made an effort to access it. Perhaps they might take out a few pennies here are there, but leave the bulk the treasure untouched.

The third category includes Jews of all strips who are well aware if the treasure they possess and who benefit from it.

Every one of us possesses a soul, a spark of the Divine. It is a veritable treasure. We may compare it to a beautiful piece of art or a symphony, whose conductor is none other than G-d Himself.

To hear the symphony of the soul we have Holidays. Each Holiday has the capacity to elicit some of the celestial music embedded in the core of our being.

The Uniqueness of Chanukah

To better understand the uniqueness of Chanukah we ought to focus on the emphasis of Chanukah as an 8 day Holiday, as opposed to Passover and Sukkos which are seven day Holidays (Shemini Atzeres, the eighth day of Sukkos is actually a separate and independent Holiday.)

The number seven symbolizes the natural order; that which is conventional and “normal.” The number eight represents that which is supra-rational, unconventional, transcendent and out of the box.

We are taught that King David’s harp had seven strands; the harp of Moshiach will have eight strands because the Messianic Age will introduce us to the transcendent G-dly light.

Chanukah too is related to the idea of eight, which transcends nature and all that is conventional and “normal.” Chanukah is an eight day Holiday and we kindle a Menorah consisting of eight branches. Even the Menorah in the Bais Hamikdash consisted of seven branches..

Chanukah excavates our psyche and reaches deep into our core, our essence.

Chanukah is when we can access the hidden treasure and hear the beautiful, heavenly music of our neshama.

The Chanukah Symphony

Every Jew, without exception, produces a beautiful note.

However, when we are united, particularly during Chanukah, we create a beautiful symphony; and nowhere is the symphony more Heavenly; a taste of the future, than in the glow of Chanukah.

It is our challenge to bring every Jew to bask in the light of Chanukah, including the eighth night in which the transcendent nature of Chanukah is most evident.

There is no greater feeling of joy than Jews of all stripes getting together to celebrate community service and to honor people who are devoted to bringing light to the world in the glow of Chanukah.

This message of hearing the symphony is more pronounced in a year of Hakhel, the post Sabbatical year, when Jews would be gathered in the Holy Temple to hear the reading of the Torah. This is an especially auspicious time for Jews to gather for the purpose of accessing and spreading light.

If there was ever a time that we needed the light of Chanukah it is today; tonight. With all the darkness in the world; with the terrorism in our country and in Israel, we need the light of Chanukah to dispel the darkness.

The Fifth Night

The message of Chanukah is especially potent on the fifth night. There is something unique about the fifth night. The Rebbe pointed out that it can never occur on a Shabbos. It highlights the power of the Chanukah lights to illuminate a night that ostensibly doesn’t have the potential to become holy.

It’s intriguing that the word light is the 25th word of the Torah, and Chanukah occurs on the 25th day of the month of Kislev.

It’s even more fascinating that the word or-light appears in the Torah 8 times. And the last time it appears is in the context of the plague of darkness, where the Torah states that despite the darkness “There was light for all of the children of Israel in their dwellings.”

A Chanukah Question

Chanukah is cognate to the word chinuch, which means education. And asking questions is crucial for students who want to learn. And there is no holiday in which questions have been asked more than Chanukah.

There is one question about which hundreds of answers have been given. Each answer uncovers another dimension of light.

The question is: Why do we observe Chanukah for 8 days when the miracle was really only for seven. After all, they had enough oil for one night.

Interestingly, this question was first raised about 700 years ago by a rabbi whose known as the M’eiri, which means the giver of light, and this question resurfaced a few hundred years later and was asked by Rabbi Yosef Karo whose name Yosef means to increase alluding to the way we increase the light from night to night, and indeed, their question precipitated untold light and enlightenment about Chanukah.

I’d like to offer an answer to the question that sheds light on the power of Chanukah to bring light to every nook and cranny of the world.

The Kabbalists teach us that the Menorah in the Temple which had seven branches corresponded to the seven personality types. Some of us respond to the love and kindness of Judaism; some to the discipline and morality. Some Jews are attracted to the beauty of its teachings and some are inspired by its endurance; to have weathered the test of time. Some are impressed by a sense of gratitude for all that G-d has given us and feel a need to reciprocate by expressing gratitude to G-d.

There are those who just crave to be connected to G-d, which they can only through the Mitzvos and prayer. And there are some who want to be Jewish just because they feel that this is what our King wants us to do. They are soldiers in G-d’s army.

There are a total of seven emotions of characteristics, and invariably when they lit the Menorah in the Temple in illuminates the souls of all seven personality types.

But there is an eighth category: the Jew to whom Jewish teaching, practice and ideals do not resonate at all. These are the Jews, whose only Jewishness is buried deep into their psyche and are not even aware of its presence. These are the Jews who are unaware of Shabbos, which is associated with the number seven. These are the people that the light of the Temple Menorah could not reach them. They are like the fifth child who does not come to the Seder, which parallels the fifth night which can never occur on a Shabbos.

The miracle of Chanukah is that its light can touch everyone. And that is why it is an eight day Holiday despite the fact that the miracle was only for seven days. The mere fact that they found the cruse of oil, symbolizing the hidden, uncontaminated core of our souls is the greatest miracle. That is the power of eight.

Chanukah brings together and ignites the soul of all eight categories of Jews and prepares them for the Final Redemption through Moshiach who is also identified in the Talmud as being connected to the number eight.

Have a happy Chanukah!

QUIZ ONE

For each number (1-13) identify an aspect of Chanukah that corresponds to that number:

1- One cruse of uncontaminated oil they found. kaa’ret kesef achas etc

2- Blessings second night and onward, bakar shnayim etc

3- Blessings, levels of observance, 4- Sides and letters of dreidel

5- Number of Maccabbees, rams etc. of korbonos hanesiim

6-Number of Mitzvos one is surrounded with while lighting the Menorah. 1) Menorah 2) Mezuzah (3-6) Tzitzis; Matisyahu and his sons; number of days of traveling to get fresh oil 7- Number of lights in Temple Menorah, Channah and 7 sons, time to manufacture new oil, time for purification, actual days of nes 8- Number of days of Chanukah; number of lights; days of bris, which was banned 9- Number of candles on last night including Shamosh 10-Number of menorot King Solomon made. Weight of golden spoon for ketores in chanukas hanesiim. Should be below 10 tefachim 11- The day of the Nasi of Asher from whose territory oil came 12- We read the dedicatory sacrifices of the 12 leaders of tribes during Chanukah 13- The Greeks made 13 breaches in the Temple wall. Beha’alotecha follows 12 nesi’im, 13 tribes including Levi.

QUIZ TWO

The word Chanukah means: (a) holiness (b) freedom (c) dedication (d) joy 2) Chanukah is an eight day holiday because:

(a) the battle against the Greeks took eight days

(a) olive oil is the cheapest fuel available

(b) olive oil is the most expensive fuel available

(d) Israel’s main import is olive oil

We recite three blessings the first night of Chanukah and only two on subsequent nights because:

(a) the third blessing of Shehecheyanu is only recited the first day of a holiday (b) the rabbis did not want to burden us with too many blessings (c) we add a blessing on the first night to thank G-d for the military victory (d) we add a blessing on the first night of Chanukah to thank G-d for the Latkes 5) We light the menorah at night because:

(a) that is when they lit it in the Temple (b) light is more noticeable at night (c) more people are home at night (d) all of the above 6) We use a ninth candle known as the Shamosh because:

(a) it comes in handy as a spare

(b) we may not benefit from the light of the other candles

(c) its easier to light the menorah with another candle than with a match (d) it memorializes all the Jews who died in the battles against the Greeks 7) We may not derive benefit from the Chanukah candles because:

(a) they are a fire hazard

(b) in the olden days candles were made from non-kosher fat

(d) they are holy and are intended only for the publicizing of the miracle 8) The reason we light one candle the first night, two the second night, and so on, is:

(a) to constantly increase the way we perform the mitzvah

(b) to save money

(c) to show solidarity with the poor who cannot afford to light all eight (d) all of the above 9) We light the menorah in the synagogue as well as in the home:

(a) so that people should not neglect to come to the synagogue

(b) to reach a larger number of people

(d) to emulate the lighting of the Menorah in the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple)

We eat latkes on Chanukah because:

(a) latkes were eaten by the Maccabees when they were hiding in their caves (b) potatoes were the only food that Eastern European Jews had (c) the Maccabees used potatoes as a weapon against the enemy (d) they are fried in oil which reminds us of the miracle with oil 11) It is customary for parents to give their children Chanukah Gelt:

(a) because it helps to educate children to give tzedakah

(b) because it keeps the children happy

(d) to teach them about the importance of saving money

We eat dairy foods on Chanukah because:

(a) because the Maccabee fighters did not have access to a shochet and were forced to eat dairy (b) Yehudah Hamaccabee was a vegetarian (c) Israel is known for Milk and Honey and Chanukah is a holiday that occurred in Israel as opposed to all other Biblical and rabbinical holidays.

(d) A major victory occurred through dairy foods. Yehudit fed the Greek general with salty cheese and then gave him wine to quench his thirst. When he fell asleep from the wine, she decapitated him.

We play dreidel on Chanukah because:

(a) it reminds us of the heroism of the Jewish children who risked their lives to study Torah. When Greek sentries would come to spy on them they would take out their tops and play.

(b) it provides children with a means to make money

(d) the word sevivon has the same numerical value as the word Chanukah 14) The Dreidel consists of the four letters:

(a) nun, gimmel, hei, tav (b) nun, gimmel, chet, shin (c) nun, gimmel, hei, shin (d) nun, gimmel, samach, shin 15) We light the Chanukah candles before lighting the Shabbos candles because:

(a) Chanukah candles are more important

(b) By lighting Shabbos candles we usher in the Shabbos and we may not light any fire.

(d) Chanukah candles must be lit a half hour before sunset and Shabbos candles 18 minutes before sunset QUIZ THREE 1) One of the meanings of the word Chanukah is: (a) holiness (b) freedom (c) they rested on the 25th (d) light 2) The miracle of Chanukah occurred in the: (a) Mishkan (tabernacle) the Jews had in the desert (b) Tabernacle at Shilo (c) First Temple (d) Second Temple 3) Three Jewish practices the Greeks outlawed were: (a) Circumcision, Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh (b) Circumcision, Shabbos, Passover (c) Circumcision, Kashrut, tzedakah (d) Bar Mitzvah, Kashrut, Mikveh 4) The Jews who supported the Greeks and their attempts at changing Judaism were known as the:

(a) Sadducees

(b) Karaites

(d) Hiksos

Chanukah is an eight-day holiday because:

(a) the battle against the Greeks took eight days

(b) the lone cruse of oil they found miraculously lasted eight days, the time it took to get a fresh supply of oil (c) there were eight McAbee brothers who led the rebellion against the Greeks (d) there were eight battles the Jews won 6) The laws of Chanukah were not included in the Mishnah because: (a) it is only a minor holiday (b)the laws of Chanukah were well known and there was no need to put it into writing (c) Chanukah occurred after the Mishnah was written (d) There are no laws for Chanukah, just customs 7) Some people prefer using olive oil instead of candles because:

(a) olive oil is the cheapest fuel available

(b) olive oil is the most expensive fuel available

(d) Israel’s main export is olive oil

We use a ninth candle known as the Shamosh because:

(a) it comes in handy as a spare

(b) we may not benefit from the light of the other candles

(c) it’s easier to light the menorah with another candle than with a match (d) it memorializes the Jews who died in the battles against the Greeks 9) Women have a custom to do something extra for Chanukah such as: (a) lighting an extra candle (b) giving extra tzedakah (c) making latkes (d) desisting from domestic chores while the candles burn 10) (Two correct answers): The reason women have this added observance is because:

(a) they were oppressed by the Greeks more than the men

(b) one of the major turning points and miracles occurred through a woman (c) women are compensated for not having to observe all the Mitzvos (d) women demanded more participation 11) We may not derive benefit from the Chanukah candles because they: (a) are a fire hazard (b) were once made from non-kosher fat (c) can be very messy (d) are holy and are intended only for the publicizing of the miracle 12) The reason we light one candle the first night, two the second night, and so on is to:

(a) constantly increase the way we perform the mitzvah (b) save money (c)show solidarity with the poor who cannot afford to light all eight (d) all of the above 13) We light the menorah in the synagogue as well as in the home to (a) encourage synagogue attendance (b) reach a larger number of people (c) teach people how to light the menorah (d) emulate the lighting of the Menorah in the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple)

We eat latkes on Chanukah because:

(a) potatoes were the only food that Eastern European Jews had

(b) the Maccabees used potatoes as a weapon against the enemy

(c) they are fried in oil which reminds us of the miracle with oil (d) one of the Maccabees was named Cholesterol 15) It is customary for parents to give their children Chanukah Gelt:

(a) to encourage our children towards furthering their Jewish education

(b) because it keeps the children happy

(d) to teach them about the importance of saving money

We eat dairy foods on Chanukah because:

(a) the Maccabees did not have access to a shochet and were forced to eat dairy (b) Yehudah Hamaccabee was a vegetarian (c) Israel is known for Milk and Honey and Chanukah is a holiday that occurred in Israel as opposed to all other Biblical and rabbinical holidays.

(d) A major victory occurred through dairy foods. Yehudit fed the Greek general with salty cheese and then gave him wine to quench his thirst. When he fell asleep from the wine, she decapitated him.

We play dreidel on Chanukah because:

(a) it reminds us of the heroism of the Jewish children who risked their lives to study Torah. When Greek sentries would come to spy on them they would take out their tops and play.

(b) it provides children with a means to make money

(d) the word sevivon has the same numerical value as the word Chanukah 18) In Israel the Dreidel consists of the four letters:

(a) nun, gimmel, hei, tav

(b) nun, gimmel, hei, pei

(d) nun, gimmel, samach, shin

We light the Chanukah candles before lighting the Shabbos candles because:

(a) Chanukah candles are more important

(b) by lighting Shabbos candles we usher in the Shabbos and we may not light any fire.

(d) Chanukah candles must be lit a half-hour before sunset and Shabbos candles 18 minutes before sunset 20) We light the menorah at night because:

(a) that is when they lit it in the Temple (b) light is more noticeable at night (c) more people are home at night (d) all of the above 21) We recite three blessings the first night of Chanukah and only two on subsequent nights because:

(a) 18

(b) 26

(d) 49

The significance of this number is that it corresponds to:

(a) the number of hours Adam experienced the light that G-d cretaed on the first day (b) the number of ounces the cruse of oil contained (c) the number of Matathias’ grandchildren (d) the numerical equivalent to the word light in Hebrew (e) the last two digits of Yehudah HaMaccabee’s social security number. 24) The School of Shammai maintains that we should light:

(a) one candle each night (b) in descending order (c) 8 candles each night (d) only the first night of Chanukah, the rest is optional 25) Initially, the place to put the Chanukah menorah was:

(a) In the window (b) on the table, inside the house (c) on the right side of the entrance to the house (d) on the left side of the entrance to the house 26) The additional prayer the rabbis instituted to be said during the Amidah prayer on Chanukah is called:

(b) Ya’aleh v’yavo

(c) Maoz Tzur Yeshuati

(d) Al Hanissim

The Chanukah candles must burn at least:

(a) 18 minutes after dark

(b) 30 minutes after dark

(d) 1 hour after dark

The Chanukah candles:

(a) must be different colors (b) must be red, green and yellow (c) must be blue and white (d) could be any color 29) The following two things we may not do on Chanukah: (a) eat meat and drink wine (b) fast and eulogize (c) eulogize and work (d) work and fast 30) One of the answers to the question as to why we celebrate Chanukah for eight days, if there was sufficient oil for at least the first day, is: (a) the Maccabees liked the number eight because they were the eight generation from Ezra the Scribe (b) the oil was divided into eight parts and each night the oil lasted for the entire night (c) there were eight battles that the Maccabees won.

(d) to distinguish it from the Holiday of Sukkot and Passover which has seven days 31) The Maccabees did not want to use the oil they found in the Temple because:

(a) Jewish law forbids use of defiled oil

(b) the Greeks added water to all the oil that made it impossible to use (c) the Greeks used the oil for idol worship (d) there was nothing wrong with using defiled oil, but they wanted to do the mitzvah in the most pure way 32) The first hint in the Torah to Chanukah is the word “Let there be light.” :It is a reference to Chanukah because it is:

(a) the 25th word of the Torah

(b) the 36th word of the Torah

(d) 89th – gematria of chanukah – word of the Torah 33) One primary difference between the Chanukah candles and the Shabbos candles is that: (a) we may not benefit from Chanukah candles but we may benefit from Shabbos candles (b) we may not benefit from Chanukah candles but we must benefit from Shabbos candles (c) Chanukah candles must be made for Chanukah specifically, Shabbos candles can be any candles (d) On Chanukah we may use oil, on Shabbos we must use only candles (e)) all of the above 34) One primary difference between the Chanukah candles and the havdalah candle is that: (a) the Chanukah candle we may not benefit from but we may benefit from the havdalah candle (b) the havdalah candle should have a few wicks together, the Chanukah menorah should have each wick burn separately (c) havdalah commemorates the first time fire was created naturally and Chanukah lights commemorate a miraculous light (d) all of the above 35) The numerical value of the four letters on the dreidel is the same as the word:

(a) Moshiach

(b) Moshe

(d) Shemen (oil)

If a candle extinguishes before the prescribed time for it to burn:

(a) one must rekindle it if it is a weekday, not on the Shabbos (b) one must not rekindle it ever (c) one does not have to rekindle it ever, but may do so on a weekday (d) must ask someone else to light the menorah for you.

QUIZ FOUR

KAUHCHNA-The name of the Holiday
EAIINCTODD-The meaning of Chanukah
KGESRE-The enemy
EVIOL IOL-The fuel
YANHHHUCEEES-The third blessing
OMHHASS-The ninth candle
ETB IELLLH-The rabbis who demanded increase
KTSLAE- Chanukah food
LDEEIRD- Chanukah toy
HHOASIMC -The light of Chanukah is the light of_____
RYIDA Type of food eaten on Chanukah
ETGL -We give to children
NOERAHM-Chanukah object
EYTNTW ITHFF-The date of Chanukah
SKIEVL-Month of Chanukah
IIRSEUPM ISNA- Publicizing the miracle
AMANLI SHIKODBE-Ascend in holiness
NNU MGIEL IHE HISN-Letters of the dreidel
IBAT MDASHIKHA-The location of the miracle
SHRO HHOESCD-Banned by the enemy
WETNYT UBSCTI-maximum height of Menorah
SSNAEAHOMN-The good guys
APHC MEEHSN- Was found with the seal of the Kohain Gadol
LA SSIIMANH-Chanukah prayer
EAUYHHD-Chanukah hero
THEUIYD-Chanukah heroine
ATTAHUMYI- Priest
CECEAMAB-Slogan of heroes
AZOM ZURT-Chanukah hymn
AANNHC DAN RHE EEVSN SSNO-Gave their lives
YTHIRT IXS – number of candles
SAIYR-Where the enemy came from
UOIANSHTC-The evil king
OIMIND—Where the rebellion began
NCCCIIOIMRSU-Banned by the enemy
NEOMW-Had a special role

QUIZ FIVE

Coded message using the Chanukah-Bet

Shammai-Mezuzah code

Bok oizktp koxgrxsg jksxht xqznjw bqv I ogutb eiiuapek.

From the book Light from the Future: Chanukah by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.

A Heavenly Symphony

Three Kinds of Jews

The Uniqueness of Chanukah

The Chanukah Symphony

The Fifth Night

A Chanukah Question

Have a happy Chanukah!

QUIZ ONE

QUIZ TWO

(a) The Star Spangled Banner

(c) Maoz Tzur Yeshuati

QUIZ FOUR

QUIZ FIVE

Coded message using the Chanukah-Bet

Shammai-Mezuzah code

Keep reading

Three Kinds of Jews

The Uniqueness of Chanukah

The Chanukah Symphony

The Fifth Night

A Chanukah Question

Have a happy Chanukah!

QUIZ ONE

QUIZ TWO

(a) The Star Spangled Banner

(c) Maoz Tzur Yeshuati

QUIZ FOUR

QUIZ FIVE

Coded message using the Chanukah-Bet

Shammai-Mezuzah code

Keep reading

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