Ever since the world was created, light has been a powerful and meaningful tool that our tradition has cherished and valued. God creates the world through light, the Torah, the precious gift that God gives to us is given the name of “Oraitah” which means “The Light” by the Rabbis of the Talmudic era, and we as a Jewish people are expected to be and take on the role of the “Or LaGolah- The Light unto the rest of the world”.
But as our tradition has grown the power of light has immersed into us creating a physical light as well. The spiritual light of Shabbat is created through the candles that we kindle in our homes, the memorial or yahrtzeit candle that we light maintaining the memories of our loved ones is kindled with love and with affection, and the Yom Tov candles that we light during our High Holiday Season and Festivals remind us and create for us the Biblical Festivals that are embedded in our Torah.
There is another set of candles that is lit during a specific time of year that represents a powerful, mystical and holy feeling. These are known as the Hanukkah candles and as each night moves on, an additional candle is lit. The question is why do we increase by an additional candle each evening during our “Festival of Lights?”
According to the Mishna (our Rabbinic codified law that was finally edited by Yehuda Hanasi in the 3rd century CE) there is an argument between two of our greatest Rabbinic scholars, Hillel and Shammai. Shammai states that since the legend teaches us that the oil burned for eight days, it must have become a smaller amount each and every day. Therefore, to relive that experience we should first start with eight candles and then work our way down to one on the last night of Hanukkah. Hillel mandates that since the “Miracle became greater” every day, we should increase by one candle each night during our eight day experience of rededication and renewal. Hillel wins the argument, as most people light one candle the first night and eight candles the last night of Hanukkah.
The miracles that the Hanukkah candles remind us of are crucial to our existence both physically and spiritually. When we recite the blessings over the Hanukkah candles, the second blessing speaks of the wonderful and powerful miracles that our lives are blessed with each and every day. As we light our Hanukkah candles, as we sing our Hanukkah songs with family and friends, as we eat our Sufganiyot (Jelly doughnuts fried in oil) and Levivot (Potato Latkes), as we watch the candles and sit together celebrating our Judaism and our appreciation of life, we should also think about the wonderful miracles that we are blessed with daily.
May our Hanukkah this year be one of celebration and appreciation of the miracles that are given to us and to the rest of our world. Michelle, Brianah, Julia and I wish everyone a Hag Sameyach, a Happy and fulfilling Hanukkah. May the holiday illuminate our homes, our souls, our lives and our world.
Kol Tuv,
Rabbi Micah Caplan
