The שולחן ערוך in סימן תקעא states:
הנותר ביום השמיני מן השמן הצריך לשיעור הדלקה עושה לו מדורה ושורפו בפני עצמו
Leftover oil that was originally intended for the thirty minutes of נרות חנוכה cannot be used for anything else, as it was consecrated for a מצוה and must instead be burned.
This הלכה is the source for what’s known as the שריפת הפתילות ceremony, which is practiced by many Chasidish Rebbes on מוצאי חנוכה. Some people have the מנהג of burning the wicks of the מנורה on ערב פסח with the חמץ.
We see, though, that while the Yomtov of חנוכה may be over, it’s still has lingering effects that carry on. What then, is a practical lesson we can take from these days that will hopefully provide us with inspiration for the entire year?
In this week’s Parsha, יוסף reveals himself to his brothers and is reunited with his father יעקב. When describing the emotional meeting between יעקב and יוסף, the תורה states
וירא אליו ויפול על צוואריו ויבך על צוואריו עוד
Rashi famusly notes that it only יוסף cried. As for יעקב,
היה קורא קריאת שמע
In this exalted moment, with יעקב אבינו overwhelmed with gratitude and love, he dedicates it all to Hashem, through the saying of שמע.
We need to understand, though, if this action is warranted, why didn’t יוסף also say שמע? This can perhaps be explained with the following story, which was shared by Rebetzin Leah Kook of טבריה in an interview she had with an American periodical. The Rebetzin grew up in בני ברק, the eldest daughter of Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein שליט”א, and a granddaughter of Rav Elyashiv זצוק”ל, in a home steeped with תורה and יראת שמים. A few years after her marriage to the Tzaddik Rav Dov Kook שליט”א she experienced what she describes as a “crises of connection.” Her passion for Yiddishkeit was fading, and she had no wherewithal to Daven. As she describes “All I could say was ברכות, and not more than that.”
Rebetzin Kook worked as a teacher at the time. One day, while preparing her class lessons in the school library, she came across a ספר חסידות, which included the following statement in the name of the בעל שם טוב:
הלוואי שאאהוב את הצדיק הכי גדול, כמו שהקב”ה אוהב את הרשע הכי גדול
“Halvai I should love the greatest צדיק as much as Hashem loves the greatest רשע.” This statement, implying that Hashem has infinite love for every Yid served as an eye-opener for her. Yes, we must serve Hashem and follow the תורה, but our relationship with Him should be out of love and happiness, not anxiety and depression, as His love for us is eternal and unconditional. Infused with this new approach, the Rebetzin changed her life around, and went on to become a guide to thousands, teaching a vibrant and passionate Yiddishkeit, one that preaches a dynamic relationship of love with Hashem, an approach she continues till this day.
Perhaps we can now explain why unlike יעקב אבינו, Yosef was not saying שמע. To elevate this special moment, יעקב said the שמע. But יוסף הצדיק had a different approach. Every interaction is a way of connecting with Hashem, and that can be done even without saying שמע. And so, יוסף cried on his father’s shoulders, knowing that his tears are also a way of connecting.
Perhaps this is a lesson we can carry with us from חנוכה. The ניסים of חנוכה remind us that Hashem is always there for us and that His Love for כלל ישראל will always endure. And that knowledge can give us great חיזוק throughout the entire year.
We’ll conclude with a story that highlights this point. A few years ago, famed משפיע , Rav Shalom Arush שליט”א, approached his תלמיד, singer Yair Elitzor with a special request: “Please compose a song that will highlight the great love Hashem has for כלל ישראל.” Rav Arush himself helped with the writing of the lyrics, and with that, the world renowned song was released:
השם הוא אבא והוא תמיד מתפאר בי רואה בי רק את הנקודות הטובות
Hashem is a Kind Father and is always proud of me, He only sees my good points
והשם יתברך תמיד אוהב אותי ותמיד יהיה לי רק טוב
Our loving relationship with Hashem is real and nothing, and nobody, can sever it.
Weekly Parsha Shiur 