Description: The Light of Shabbos and Chanukah 01
For the next few days, I’d like to change our limud temporarily, in order to learn about Chanukah. We will be learning from the Sichos of Rav Shimshon Pincus Zatzal on the topics of Chanukah, and we’ll try to focus on the things we have been working on, namely Emunah in the Metzius, the existence of Hashem, and Emunah that we were created by Hashem, and the need for Kirvas Elokim, to build a relationship with Hashem.
Chazal tell us that the light which was created at the beginning of creation, known as the ‘Ohr Haganuz,’ had amazing spiritual properties. Adam Harishon utilized that light to see from one end of the world to another – nothing was hidden from a person who had access to that light. Hakadosh Baruch Hu saw that there would eventually be reshaim in the world who would misuse this ability and disrespect the kedushah of the light, He therefore hid the light. For whom is it hidden? For the tzaddikim ‘le’asid lavo.’
However, the seforim tell us that this light is hidden within our Yamim Tovim as well. When the time for a Yom Tov arrives, the spiritual ‘Ohr Haganuz,’ bursts out and shines precious light upon our neshamos. For that reason, the Yamim Tovim are referred to as ‘tov’ good – why? Because this special light is termed ‘good’, as it says, ‘Vaya’ar Elokim es ha’ohr ki tov!’
There are stories of tzaddikim, who through their holiness and pure eyes, were able to see things far away, and see through people. The story is told of the Chafetz Chayim, who knew that Rav Chatzkel Sarnah was released from Siberia as it happened, although it was hundreds of miles away. Immersing oneself in the Torah also exposes the ‘Ohr Haganuz,’ which is hidden within the Torah as well.
We see an interesting thing about Chanukah. Every Yom Tov has a dedicated Masechtah of Gemarah which discusses it’s halachos. There’s Maseches Pesachim for Pesach, Sukkah for Sukkos, Yomah for Yom Kippur, Megillah for Purim and so on. But Chanukah has no Masechta! It has a portion of Perek Bameh Madlikim in Maseches Shabbos – the perek of Gemarah that discusses all the halachos of Neir Shabbos, also incorporates all the halachos of Neir Chanukah. It seems that there is an intrinsic connection between Shabbos and Chanukah, and the candles of Shabbos and the candles of Chanukah! Let’s see if we can understand the deeper meaning to this connection.
Let’s first try and understand the underlying concept of Neiros Shabbos. There’s a fascinating halachah pertaining to Shabbos candles that everyone should know. If someone unfortunately has no money, and all he has is sufficient to buy one of two things – he can either buy oil for his Chanukah Menorah, or he can purchase wine for Kiddush. The halachah is – buy oil for Chanukah! Why? Because the menorah comes for ‘parsumei nissah,’ to publicize the miracle of Chanukah – and that’s more important then kiddush, although kiddush is essentially a Torah commandment! However, if one only has enough oil to either light Shabbos candles or light the menorah – the halachah is that Shabbos candles take precedence! Why? Because Shabbos candles contribute to Shalom Bayis – if there’s no light it makes the mood in the house depressing, and when it’s difficult to see people trip over things and get mad. This is more important than the Chanukah candles.
But this needs to be understood! How can anything be more important than Chanukah which comes to strengthen our basic Emunah and belief in Hashem. The miracle of Chanukah demonstrated Hashem’s existence, His dominion over all things and people, His control over the world, and His interest in us! Why should Shabbos candles trump the mitzvah of Chanukah?
Rav Shimshon Pincus says a beautiful thought. Shabbos literally means resting. In a deeper sense this means that once Shabbos arrives, everything stops in it’s tracks and Shabbos takes over. The way the world is run during the weekday, is different than the way it works on Shabbos. In a perfect Shabbos, nothing else exists other than the presence of Hashem. What brings on this wave of kedushah?
The neiros of Shabbos usher in this change. The days of the week, which are days of the physical world, as they are called, ‘yemay hamaaseh,’ are called ‘choshech.’ Darkness! Shabbos is ‘mei’ein Olam Hab’ah,’ a taste of the world to come – it is light.
Iy”H next week we will continue developing this idea, how Shabbos ties into Chanukah, and how the Shabbos candles and light of Shabbos are introduced into the weekdays through the Chanukah lights.
For the next few days, I’d like to change our limud temporarily, in order to learn about Chanukah. We will be learning from the Sichos of Rav Shimshon Pincus Zatzal on the topics of Chanukah, and we’ll try to focus on the things we have been working on, namely Emunah in the Metzius, the existence of Hashem, and Emunah that we were created by Hashem, and the need for Kirvas Elokim, to build a relationship with Hashem.
Chazal tell us that the light which was created at the beginning of creation, known as the ‘Ohr Haganuz,’ had amazing spiritual properties. Adam Harishon utilized that light to see from one end of the world to another – nothing was hidden from a person who had access to that light. Hakadosh Baruch Hu saw that there would eventually be reshaim in the world who would misuse this ability and disrespect the kedushah of the light, He therefore hid the light. For whom is it hidden? For the tzaddikim ‘le’asid lavo.’
However, the seforim tell us that this light is hidden within our Yamim Tovim as well. When the time for a Yom Tov arrives, the spiritual ‘Ohr Haganuz,’ bursts out and shines precious light upon our neshamos. For that reason, the Yamim Tovim are referred to as ‘tov’ good – why? Because this special light is termed ‘good’, as it says, ‘Vaya’ar Elokim es ha’ohr ki tov!’
There are stories of tzaddikim, who through their holiness and pure eyes, were able to see things far away, and see through people. The story is told of the Chafetz Chayim, who knew that Rav Chatzkel Sarnah was released from Siberia as it happened, although it was hundreds of miles away. Immersing oneself in the Torah also exposes the ‘Ohr Haganuz,’ which is hidden within the Torah as well.
We see an interesting thing about Chanukah. Every Yom Tov has a dedicated Masechtah of Gemarah which discusses it’s halachos. There’s Maseches Pesachim for Pesach, Sukkah for Sukkos, Yomah for Yom Kippur, Megillah for Purim and so on. But Chanukah has no Masechta! It has a portion of Perek Bameh Madlikim in Maseches Shabbos – the perek of Gemarah that discusses all the halachos of Neir Shabbos, also incorporates all the halachos of Neir Chanukah. It seems that there is an intrinsic connection between Shabbos and Chanukah, and the candles of Shabbos and the candles of Chanukah! Let’s see if we can understand the deeper meaning to this connection.
Let’s first try and understand the underlying concept of Neiros Shabbos. There’s a fascinating halachah pertaining to Shabbos candles that everyone should know. If someone unfortunately has no money, and all he has is sufficient to buy one of two things – he can either buy oil for his Chanukah Menorah, or he can purchase wine for Kiddush. The halachah is – buy oil for Chanukah! Why? Because the menorah comes for ‘parsumei nissah,’ to publicize the miracle of Chanukah – and that’s more important then kiddush, although kiddush is essentially a Torah commandment! However, if one only has enough oil to either light Shabbos candles or light the menorah – the halachah is that Shabbos candles take precedence! Why? Because Shabbos candles contribute to Shalom Bayis – if there’s no light it makes the mood in the house depressing, and when it’s difficult to see people trip over things and get mad. This is more important than the Chanukah candles.
But this needs to be understood! How can anything be more important than Chanukah which comes to strengthen our basic Emunah and belief in Hashem. The miracle of Chanukah demonstrated Hashem’s existence, His dominion over all things and people, His control over the world, and His interest in us! Why should Shabbos candles trump the mitzvah of Chanukah?
Rav Shimshon Pincus says a beautiful thought. Shabbos literally means resting. In a deeper sense this means that once Shabbos arrives, everything stops in it’s tracks and Shabbos takes over. The way the world is run during the weekday, is different than the way it works on Shabbos. In a perfect Shabbos, nothing else exists other than the presence of Hashem. What brings on this wave of kedushah?
The neiros of Shabbos usher in this change. The days of the week, which are days of the physical world, as they are called, ‘yemay hamaaseh,’ are called ‘choshech.’ Darkness! Shabbos is ‘mei’ein Olam Hab’ah,’ a taste of the world to come – it is light.
Iy”H next week we will continue developing this idea, how Shabbos ties into Chanukah, and how the Shabbos candles and light of Shabbos are introduced into the weekdays through the Chanukah lights.