Post date: Dec 19, 2014 4:34:3 AM
Hilchos Chanukah on the dreidel
Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz (in his Sefer Imrei Pinchas) tells us that the letters on the dreidel indicate the length of the holiday and the type of Hallel recited.
The letters Nun and Shin stand for Nieros Shemonah, that the candles of Chanukah are lit for eight nights.
The letters Heh and Gimmel stand for Hallel Gamur, that we recite the complete Hallel on Chanukah (unlike the partial Hallel recited on other significant days, like Rosh Chodesh and most of Pesach).
Similarly, Rabbi Eliezer Tzvi Safrin of Komarna tells us that the Nun and Shin on the dreidel stand for Ner Shemen, that we kindle lights of oil on Chanukah.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 140]
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The rearranged letters of “Chanukah” could be interpreted as being Roshei Teivos (leading leatters) for the following phrase:
Neis Hashemen V’gam Kohanei Chashmonaim
The miracle of the oil, and also (of) the Chashmonai Kohanim.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 463]
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A new answer each night! -- The Beis Yosef poses a very famous question about the length of the Chanukah holiday. “When the Chashmonaim found the jar of oil, they had the first day’s oil at that point. Since the miracle seemed to begin with the second night, why was Chanukah instituted for eight days instead if just seven?” (Below is another possible answer.)
The Arvei Nachal tells us that on the first night, the Kohanim noticed that the oil of the Menorah was burning in a supernatural way. Otherwise, they would have had no reason to look into the cups of the Menorah the next morning. The sensitivity of the Kohanim allowed them to detect the presence of a miracle taking place before their very eyes.
[The Essence of Chanukah, p. 31]