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Chanukah-Appreciation and Growth
By Rabbi Yonassan Biggs
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Chanukah-Appreciation and Growth
This year the first night of
Chanukah is Tuesday December 20th and the last night
is Tuesday December 27th.
Candles should be lit after
sunset (4:30 In NY City) except for Friday when they must be lit
before sunset and Saturday when they must be lit after nightfall
(5:15 in NY City)
On the first night of Chanukah
we light the Shamash and use the Shamash to light the far right
candle. After lighting the Shamash, before lighting the candle
we make three blessings:
1)
Baruch Atah Adonai
Elohainu Melech Ha’olam Asher Kid’shanu B’mitzvotav V’tzivanu
L’hadlik Ner Chanukah.
2)
Baruch Atah Adonai
Elohainu Melech Ha’olam She’asah Nissim La’avotainu Bayamim
Hahaim Bizman Hazeh.
3)
Baruch Atah Adonai
Elohainu Melech Ha’olam Shehechiyanu Vekiy’manu Vehig’yanu
Lizman Hazeh.
The third
blessing is only recited the first night or the first time one
lights candles this year.
On the second night the Shamash
is lit, the first two blessings are said, and then the Shamash
is used to light the second from the right and then the far
right candles. Each night the new candle is lit first.
On Friday the Menorah is lit
before Shabbat candles. Under no circumstances should the
Menorah be lit after sunset.
On Saturday the Menorah is lit
after Havdalah after nightfall.
Shalom and Bracha!
Chanukah is a celebration of
a twofold miracle; the Maccabees overcame their oppressors
against overwhelming odds, and the oil that was sufficient for
one day lasted for seven. In appreciation of the miracle of the
victory, we say the Hallel each day in the morning prayers and
the Al Hanissim in the prayers and in the grace after meals. In
recognition of the miracle of the Menorah, we light the Menorah
each night of Chanukah.
The victory of the Maccabees
teaches us that even when we see no chance to overcome, we must
stand up for that which is right and remember that victory is in
the hands of Hashem who is totally beyond nature.
The Hallel and Al Hanissim
remind us to constantly express our appreciation for all of our
blessings. This is also a very important lesson in dealing with
each other.
The Maggid of Mezritch once
asked his students: If two people are on ladders, one on the
fiftieth rung and one on the second, which is higher? The
students understood that there must be hidden depth in the
question, and asked the Maggid to tell them. He answered that it
depends if and in which way they are going. Each night of
Chanukah, we add an additional candle. Chanukah symbolizes our
internal battle between light and darkness. We begin with one
candle and slowly increase. This teaches us that we should
illuminate our lives on step at a time, at first with one
Mitzvah, and then another. Our constant increasing teaches us
that we must never stagnate- what was ideal for yesterday is
insufficient for today.
As we collectively light up
our portions of the world, may we speedily see the ultimate
illumination of the world through the coming of Moshiach.
Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Biggs
Dedicated in merit of Gittel
Bas Miriam for a full and speedy recovery
There is a great Chanukah website at
http://www.chabadgn.com/holidays/chanukah/
A project of Chabad of Great
Neck
400 East Shore Rd.
Great Neck NY 11024
516 4874554 fax 516
4874807
The Chanukah
lights increase from day to day. Wouldn’t it be great to
convince one more Jew each day to light a Menorah?
