The month that contains the holiday of Chanukah teaches us that sometimes a little can do a lot. 



This idea sneaks its head into many areas of Jewish thought. One famous statement from the sages is, "Open for me an opening of repentance the size of an end of a needle, and I will open for you openings big enough for cattle and wagons to enter." When someone sincerely desires to strengthen his or her connection to God, He responds by flooding him or her with opportunities to connect to Him.

Often we think to ourselves, "If only I had more power, brains, talent, money, influence, etc., then I could really accomplish what I want." When dealing a spiritual endeavor you can't think purely in practical terms. The added help from God is so tremendous that it takes away all natural limitations.

The Jews themselves are also the symbol of what a small number can do. 

The greatest example of this is Chanukah. We were weaker and fewer yet we prevailed against the odds. These were no miraculous plagues or splitting of seas, just a large amount of Divine assistance. To look at the scene of our fight against the Greeks from a practical standpoint, it would have looked like pure suicide. Who would have thought we really could have won? God helped make a lot out of a little. That's why the remembrance of Chanukah is the flask of oil that should have only lasted one day but lasted eight instead. Because of that flask we light the eight lights of the Chanukah menorah.

Another example of "a little doing a lot" helped an ignorant shepherd become one of the greatest sages of the Talmudic period. Akiva, the shepherd, saw water dripping on a stone. He noticed a hole had worn through the stone where the drops were hitting. He said to himself, "If water can do this to a rock, imagine what the Torah can do to my heart." So he went off to study for many years, carrying with him the image of how much a little bit can add up to.

The Jews themselves are also the symbol of what a small number can do. They have influenced all of history, all of mankind. The Jewish people are a nation with a destiny and a purpose. Their heritage is deep and powerful. They lie like a sleeping giant. If only a few rays of wisdom could shine down on them to awaken them from their slumber, then we would see how much a little could do.

For more essays see www.kabbalahclub.com

Rabbi Max Weiman
MWeiman@aish.com

Chanukkah Traditions

Chanukkah is not a very important religious holiday. The holiday's religious significance is far less than that of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavu'ot. It is roughly equivalent to Purim in significance, and you won't find many non-Jews who have even heard of Purim! Chanukkah is not mentioned in Jewish scripture; the story is related in the book of Maccabbees, which Jews do not accept as scripture.

The only religious observance related to the holiday is the lighting of candles. The candles are arranged in a candelabrum called a menorah (or sometimes called a chanukkiah) that holds nine candles: one for each night, plus a shammus (servant) at a different height. On the first night, one candle is placed at the far right. The shammus candle is lit and three berakhot (blessings) are recited: l'hadlik neir (a general prayer over candles), she-asah nisim (a prayer thanking G-d for performing miracles for our ancestors at this time), and she-hekhianu (a general prayer thanking G-d for allowing us to reach this time of year). See Chanukkah Candle Lighting Blessings for the full text of these blessings. After reciting the blessings, the first candle is then lit using the shammus candle, and the shammus candle is placed in its holder. The candles are allowed to burn out on their own after a minimum of 1/2 hour. Each night, another candle is added from right to left (like the Hebrew language). Candles are lit from left to right (because you pay honor to the newer thing first). On the eighth night, all nine candles (the 8 Chanukkah candles and the shammus) are lit.

Why the shammus candle? The Chanukkah candles are for pleasure only; we are not allowed to use them for any productive purpose. We keep an extra one around (the shammus), so that if we need to do something useful with a candle, we don't accidentally use the Chanukkah candles. The shammus candle is at a different height so that it is easily identified as the shammus.

It is traditional to eat fried foods on Chanukkah because of the significance of oil to the holiday. Among Ashkenazic Jews, this usually includes latkes (pronounced "lot-kuhs" or "lot-keys" depending on where your grandmother comes from. Pronounced "potato pancakes" if you are a goy.) My recipe is included later in this page.

Gift-giving is not a traditional part of the holiday, but has been added in places where Jews have a lot of contact with Christians, as a way of dealing with our children's jealousy of their Christian friends. It is extremely unusual for Jews to give Chanukkah gifts to anyone other than their own young children. The only traditional gift of the holiday is "gelt," small amounts of money.

Another tradition of the holiday is playing dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top. Most people play for matchsticks, pennies, M&Ms or chocolate coins.