Dear Readers sh’yichyu,
A Freilichin Chanuka!
Chanuka has turned into a real Yom Tov of gatherings. Whether it is the activities that we do to spread the light and miracle of Chanuka with others or with our own family, it seems that every night we are attending a different gathering. In 5748 – a year of Hakhel – the Rebbe encouraged that we use these times that we are gathered anyway as Hakhel gatherings. The Rebbe said that he would lead this campaign by example, and therefore the Rebbe said a sicha every day (after the lighting of the candles) speaking about the Torah portion of the day and the uniqueness of each and every night of Chanuka.
There was one very general Hakhel theme that the Rebbe addressed that year: It has often been quoted the Pasuk (D’varim 31:12): “Assemble the people, the men, the women, and the children, and your stranger in your cities, in order that they hear, and in order that they learn and fear the Lord, your God, and they will observe to do all the words of this Torah.” In general, we take this to mean that we have to encourage people to add in Torah and Mitzvos. The Rebbe (Toras Menachem 5748 Vol. 2 pg. 99 footnote 22) teaches us, that we learn from Chanuka an additional and important aspect: That – even if one is already fulfilling the Mitzvos – it is not sufficient; the Mitzvos themselves must be infused with Yiras Shamayim.
In the HaYom Yom (2 Teves) the Rebbe explains: The campaign of the Greeks was aimed to “make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will”; and as the Midrash (B’Reishis Rabba 16) puts it, (the Greeks demanded) “Write… that you have no share in the G-d of Israel.” It was a war against G-d. “Let them study Torah,” the Greeks implied. “Let them practice the justice-mitzvos and the ‘testimonial’ observances. But they must not mention that the Torah is G-d’s Torah and the mitzvos are the decrees of His will. Torah and mitzvos must be severed from G-dliness.” On Chanuka, we need to use the gatherings that we have to instill in our families and friends – not just to do Mitzvos, rather – to do Mitzvos for Hashem.
Shabbos Chanuka – Parshas Mikeitz – is also very much connected to Moshiach. The Rebbe writes (Mikeitz 5751):
As we stand in the days of Chanukah – though a multifaceted holiday – we ought to emphasize primarily its connection with Redemption.
This festival was instituted because of the miracle with the cruse of oil involved with the kindling of the menorah in the Beis HaMikdash. Afterwards, the Chashmonaim dedicated the Temple (“They cleared Your Sanctuary and purified Your Holy Temple”). Mention of the Temple is an immediate reminder of the Redemption, and serves to enhance our anticipation for his coming every day, the building and dedication of the third Beis HaMikdash and the lighting of the Menorah by Aaron the High Priest, which will occur with the true and complete Redemption by our righteous Moshiach.
…Similarly with respect to the Torah reading of the Shabbos of Chanukah. During the Torah reading, as soon as a Jew hears and comprehends the word “Mikeitz – the End,” he exclaims, “Aha! This is an allusion to the end of exile, referred to as the “end of days – Keitz HaYamim” [spelled with a final Mem which connotes the end of exile], as well as “the end of days – Keitz HaYamin” [spelled as it is in the end of the book of Daniel, with a final nun which connotes] the deadline for the Redemption!
And afterwards, when one reads or hears the Haftora which states, “I beheld the Menorah, entirely of gold,” one senses immediately a reference to the future Redemption!
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com.