Post date: Nov 26, 2013 6:15:0 AM
Why are the days of Chanukah completely Chol (mundane), unlike the days of Yontif or Chol Hamoed?
The Greek culture focused on the supremacy of the human body to the exclusion of everything else (especially G-d). In contrast, Jews don’t act like that, nor do we seclude ourselves completely from this world in pursuit of spirituality. Rather, we take this world and elevate it by using it in our service of spirituality and Hashem.
We are taught in Pirkei Avos (2:12) “Kol ma’asecha yihiyu l’shem Shamayim” (all of your deeds must be for the sake of honoring Hashem). Even our eating and sleeping can be elevated if done to help us serve Hashem better.
R. Shimshon Dovid Pinkus (aka, the Nefesh Shimshon) explains that the Yevanim, who stood for materialism as an end unto itself, were defeated by the Chashmonaim who showed that it’s merely a means to an end. Therefore, the holiday of Chanukah is made up of regular weekdays which have no intrinsic holiness or work restrictions, unless we infuse them with Kedusha. While we gain much from the other Yomim Tovim, on Chanukah we learn how mundane things and days can also become Kadosh. If used properly, anything can be elevated through our service of Hashem. So by having a holiday completely void of days like a Yontif, it’s easier for use to understand that we can truly make a difference on our own depending on our outlook, mindset and behavior.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 57]
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The letters of “Chanukah” could be interpreted as being Roshei Teivos for the following phrase:
Ches Neiros V’halacha K’beis Hillel
8 candles (are kindled), and the ruling (regarding the kindling procedure) is in accordance with (the ruling of) Beis Hillel.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 462]