Post date: Dec 01, 2013 4:12:8 AM
Recovery from illness
The Imrei Noam shares with us that Chanukah is an auspicious time to recover from illness.
He relates that the Gematriah of the phrase “L’hadlik neir Chanukah” (to kindle the Chanukah lights) is equal to the Gematriah of the phrase “Melech rofei ne’eman” (the King [Hashem, is] the faithful Healer).
[Inside Chanukah, p. 465]
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Teshuvah after Yom Kippur
Based on the following, the Likutei Maharil and the Tzemach Tzedek explain how this extra Teshuvah period lasts until the beginning of Chanukah.
We say in Tehilim (90:3) “Tasheiv enosh ad dakah vatomer shuvu vnei adam” (You, Hashem, push man down until the crushing point, and You say ‘Return, children of man’). The Gematriah of the word “Ad” (ayin, daled) is 74, and the Gematriah of “Dakah” (daled, chaf, alef) is 25.
Using these two Gematriahs, we can reinterpret the Pasuk as follows:
“Tasheiv enosh” a person can return (ie, do Teshuvah)
“ad” for the 74 days (starting from Motzei Yom Kippur) until
“dakah” the 25th of Kisleiv. To those who have not yet done Teshuvah,
“vatomer shuvu vnei adam” Hashem tells them to do Teshuvah (because they still have until Chanukah).
[Inside Chanukah, p. 78]
The Seifer Sha’ar Yissaschar understands that the Teshuvah period actually extends into Chanukah based on the following Roshei Teivos:
In the Selichos said from Elul through Yom Kippur, we say the following Pasuk:
“Silach nah la’avon ha’am hazeh k’godel chasdecha, v’cha’asher nasasah la’am hazeh mimitzrayim v’ad heina” (Forgive now the iniquity of this people (the Jews) according to the greatness of Your kindness , and as You have forgiven this people from Egypt until now).
HaRav Shmuel Kaminka tells us that this Pasuk hints to the extended Teshuvah time frame based on the Roshei Teivos of the words “hazeh k’godel chasdecha, v’cha’asher nasasah” (Heih, Kaf, Ches, Vav, Nun) which can be rearranged to spell the word Chanukah.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 78]
The Seifer Bnei Binyamin extends the Teshuvah period further yet, through the last day of Chanukah, based on the following insight:
We learn in Yeshaya (27:9) “B’zos yichupar avon Yaakov” (by this shall the iniquity of Yaakov (the Jews) be atoned). HaRav Dovid of Dinov said in the name of his father, the Bnei Yissaschar that we can interpret this Pasuk as follows:
“Bzos” until the day of Zos Chanukah
“yichupar avon Yaakov” there still exists the opportunity for the iniquity of the Jews to be forgiven.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 79]
Additionally, R. Yizchok Diamond points out that the word Elul (Alef, Lamed, Vav, Lamed) can be divided into two parts and understood as follows:
“El” = To
“Lamed, Vav” = 36
This indicates that the period of Teshuvah (Elul) continues (“El”) to the time when all 36 (“Lamed, Vav”) candles have been lit, which is the last day of Chanukah.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 79]
The Bnei Yissaschar brings two additional points to illustrate that we can continue to do Teshuvah even through Chanukah.
1) We find a hint that our judgment on Rosh Hashanah can be modified through Chanukah by comparing the equal Gematriahs of “Matisyahu” (Mem, Taf, Saf, Yud, Heih, Vav) and “Rosh Hashanah” (Reish, Alef, Shin, Heih, Shin, Nun, Heih).
2) While the Yevanim sought “L’Hashkicham torasecha” (to cause us to forget Your Torah), Rosh Hashanah is called Zichron, a day of remembrance. Through the Teshuvah that we do from Rosh Hashanah through Chanukah, we bring ourselves back to the Torah, just as we were able to return to the Torah in the time of Matisyahu when we defeated the Yevanim and overcame their attempt at making us forget the Torah. So, in order to avoid the forgetting of Torah that could have happened in the times of the Chanukah miracle, we must have a productive period of Teshuvah between Rosh Hashanah and Chanukah. The judgment begins on Rosh Hashanah, but one who feels that his Teshuvah was lacking can rally himself and make up for it through Chanukah!
[Inside Chanukah, p. 80]
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The letters of “Chanukah” could be interpreted as being Roshei Teivos for the following phrase:
Chashmonaim Nisgavru V’hargu Kol Ha’oyvim
(The) Chashmonaim overpowered and killed all the enemies.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 463]