Post date: Dec 15, 2014 2:40:6 AM
Hi,
With Chanukah beginning this week, it's time to start sharing some Divrei Torah about the holiday. I hope you enjoy them, and please forward them to whomever you feel may also enjoy. If someone wants to join, simply email PurimVorts@gmail.com.
A Freilechen Chanukah to all!
Josh
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[Chanukah Vorts] Shalom Bayis
The following story was relayed by R. Yaakov Ruderman, as told to him by the Chofetz Chaim:
The Chofetz Chaim studied by and learned from R. Nachum of Grodna, and therefore considered him to be his teacher and rebbe. It happened that the Chofetz Chaim was visiting R. Nachum on Chanukah, and he witnessed something that he found peculiar. The day turned to night, the hours slowly passed, and the street outside the home thinned out, yet his rebbe made no move to light the candles for Chanukah. It was only much later, when the wife of R. Nachum returned home, that the Chofetz Chaim’s rebbe lit his Chanukah candles.
The Halacha seemed pretty clear to the Chofetz Chaim regarding the optimal time to light the candles. Compounded with the fact that R. Nachum’s wife could have most certainly fulfilled her obligation of the Chanukah lights through the lighting of the candles done even if she hadn’t been present, the Chofetz Chaim asked his rebbe for an explanation for his delay in performing the Mitzvah.
R. Nachum explained that the Halacha tells us that if one has only enough money to fulfill the Mitzvah of either Shabbos candles or Chanukah candles, the money must be used for the Shabbos candles for the Shabbos candles ensure Shalom Bayis (tranquility in the home). He further explained that his ability to learn Torah and his involvement in myriad Mitzvah activities is due to his wife’s support and dedication of him. Since she took pleasure in being with R. Nachum when the Chanukah candles were being lit, he decided that the very same consideration of Shalom Bayis took priority over the optimal time to light. And for that reason, he awaited her return home before performing the Mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah candles.
[Likutei Peshatim on Chanukah, p. 7]
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The question of the Beis Yosef, with another answer nightly!
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 a possible answer.)
The Beis Yosef answers that the oil was only enough to last for one day, so it was divided into eight equal parts so that each night only one-eighth of the required quantity would be poured into the Menorah. Despite this, the seemingly deficient quantity of oil lasted the entire night. So, the miracle of the oil in fact began on the first night!
[The Essence of Chanukah, p. 29]