Post date: Nov 22, 2013 7:11:17 AM
HaRav Avraham Azoulay, in his Seifer Chesed l’Avraham, teaches us that the miracle of Chanukah resulted from the Bitachon (trust) demonstrated by the Chashmonaim. The root of the word Kisleiv (Chaf, Samech, Lamed) means trust. (We find such usage in Iyov (31:24): “Im samti zahav kisli” [If I ever put my trust in gold].
Since Chanukah is about trust, it makes sense that the miracle came about through the Kohanim (priests who are not warriors by nature) who invested their full trust in Hashem as they waged battle.
Additionally, we find a hint to this in that the Gematriah of the word Kohain (Chaf, Heih, Nun) is equal to the Gematriah of the word Bitachon (Beis, Tes, Ches, Vav, Nun).
[Inside Chanukah, p. 53]
The Mazal (astrological sign) for the month of Kisleiv is the Keshes (the archer’s bow). The Keshes symbolizes that our success comes from the power of our Tefilos (davening) and not from our physical power. How is this so?
HaRav Avraham Azoulay, in his Seifer Chesed l’Avraham relates that when Yaakov says, in Parshas Vayechi (48:22), that he conquered Shechem “B’charbi uv’kashti,” Rashi tells us that this refers to his intense Tefilos. The Gur Aryeh explains that Tefilah is like a bow in that just as the effectiveness of a shot depends (among other things) on how much pressure is exerted on the bow, so to the effectiveness of Tefilah depends on a person’s level of concentration and sincerity.
The Chashmonaim were victorious because before going to battle, they fasted and prayed, asking Hashem for success. We are reminded of this effort when we consider the Keshes of Kisleiv, and how the Chashmonaim were intense in the sincerity of their Tefilos.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 52]
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The Roshei Teivos of “Shemen” could be interpreted as standing for the following phrase:
She’lima’ancha Masru Nafsham
That for the sake of Your (Hashem’s) Name, (the Chashmonaim) sacrificed themselves.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 463]