Post date: Dec 02, 2013 5:17:42 AM
The 5th day
Why is the 5th day of Chanukah one of the most significant?
R. Aryeh Pinchas Strickoff tells us that the letters of the word “Chameish,” five (Ches, Mem, Shin), can be understood to stand for the following…
Ches = Chodesh
Mem = Milah
Shin = Shabbos
…the three Mitzvos outlawed by the Yevanim. The abolishment of these three significant Mitzvos symbolized their overall plan to make us forget the Torah and forsake Mitzvos.
If we reverse the letters of the word “Chameish” we end up with the word “Sameach,” happy. The Gemara (Shabbos 30a) tells us that “the Shechinah comes to rest (upon a person) through the Simcha associated with (doing) a Mitzvah.” There are different levels of Simcha. But the highest level of Simcha was returned to us in the days of Chanukah when we were able to return to our performance of Mitzvos aided by the Mesiras Nefesh (self-sacrifice) of the Chashmonaim, whose name contains the letters of the word Chameish (Ches, Mem, Shin).
[Inside Chanukah, p. 103]
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Never to be forgotten
In the Tefilah of Al HaNissim, we mention the main aspiration of the Yevanim when we say “Le’hashkicham Torasecha,” that they wanted to make us forget Your Torah by outlawing three Mitzvos that help us remember Hashem. The Sefas Emes outlines the three Mitzvos, and explains how this is so:
- Bris Milah: A safeguard of Israel’s morality, it helps us ensure that our souls never forget Hashem.
- Shabbos: It reminds us of Creation, as we say in Kiddush, “Zikaron l’ma’asei Vireishis” (that it’s a commemoration of the work of Creation).
- Rosh Chodesh: It’s referred to as a day of remembrance by the Gemara (Eiruvin 40b). Also, the Torah states (Bamidbar 10:10) “V’hayu lachem l’zikaron” (and they will be for you a reminder) when discussing Rosh Chodesh.
I would also like to add that we ask Hashem to remember us for good (“V’Zachreinu l’tova,” remember us for good) when saying the after-Beracha of Al HaMichyah on Rosh Chodesh.
[Days of Joy, p. 49]
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The letters of “Shemen” could be interpreted as being Roshei Teivos for the following phrase:
Melech Ne’eman Shamram
The Faithful King (Hashem) protected them (the Jews).
[Inside Chanukah, p. 463]