Page 7 - HaMizrachi #15 2019 Chanuka USA

Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin

CHANUKAH AND CHINUCH

The Antibiotic vs. Probiotic Approach

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he Talmud explains that the Beit HaMikdash and the entire Jewish on one foot. Shammai pushed him
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basic mitzvah of Chanukah is culture. Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai away with a measuring stick, believing
Tfor the head of the household differ regarding the most effective that he must first display motivation to
to kindle one light each night. The means of continuing to commemo- relinquish his evil past before learning
mehadrin (those who are meticulous rate and counter the “darkness” and Torah. The same gentile came before
in the performance of mitzvot), kindle a deterrents in our path toward Avodat Hillel. He converted him and said to
light for each member of the household. Hashem. him: “That which is hateful to you do
The mehadrin min hamehadrin, who The Maharal explains that on Sukkot not do to another; that is the entire
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are even more meticulous, adjust the we ward off the influences of the 70 Torah, and the rest is its interpretation.
number of lights daily. Beit Shammai nations through bringing the equiva- Go study.” Hillel espouses a ׁש ֶ דֹ ּ ק ַּ ב ןיִ ל ֲ ע ַ מ
and Beit Hillel disagree as to the nature lent number of sacrifices and decreas- approach to Jewish education – teach a
of that adjustment. Beit Shammai say: ing the number of bulls until we are little Torah and gradually increase the
On the first day one kindles eight lights left with one, symbolic of Am Yisrael’s student’s light as the darkness automat-
and gradually decreases the number of exclusivity. So too on Chanukah, we ically begins to fade.
lights from thereon until, on the last continue to commemorate our victory
day of Chanukah, he kindles one light. in a war against the darkness of Helle- Chanukah is an opportune time for
And Beit Hillel say: On the first day nistic culture through lighting many us to revisit our methods of Chinuch.
one kindles one light, and gradually lights in our homes to combat the evil. Beit Shammai’s “antibiotic” approach
increases the number of lights until, on As we minimize the darkness, fewer is based on the bulls brought in the
the last day, he kindles eight lights. candles are needed day by day. This is courtyard of the Sanctuary. Perhaps
combatting external influences is an
Ulla said: There were two Amoraim in Shammai’s “antibiotic” approach to efficient method to apply in the public
the West, Eretz Yisrael, who disagreed Chinuch (education) – ward off the sphere, where bombastic measures are
with regard to this dispute, Rabbi Yosei “virus” of darkness through doses of sometimes necessary to ameliorate evil
bar Avin and Rabbi Yosei bar Zevida. light! As the darkness subsides, fewer and darkness (ע ָ ר ֵ מ רּוס). Beit Hillel’s
One said that the reason for Beit Sham- antibiotics are necessary! According to application of ןי ִ די ִ רֹומ ןי ֵ א ְ ו ׁש ֶ דֹ ּ ק ַּ ב ןי ִ ל ֲ ע ַ מ is
mai’s opinion was that the number of Beit Shammai, we light according to based on the showbreads offered in the
lights corresponds to the incoming the incoming days, anticipating a better inner sanctuary. In the inner sphere of
days… the reason for Beit Hillel’s opin- state (less negative influences) day by our homes, a more positive means of
ion is that the number of lights corre- day. edification is a gradual increase of light
sponds to the outgoing days. And one Beit Hillel adopts a more “probiotic” as we encourage our children to extend
said that the reason for Beit Shammai’s approach to strengthen us – people their strengths (בֹוט ה ֵ ׂש ֲ ע). Chanukah
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opinion is that the number of lights are naturally good and merely need to lights are linked to the home – and
corresponds to the bulls of the festival boost their immunization against neg- thereby Beit Hillel’s “probiotic” method
of Sukkot (13 were sacrificed on the ative influences in a gradual manner, of education is deemed the more
first day and one fewer was sacrificed increasing the already-present light preferable!
on each succeeding day) and the reason day by day, strengthening and elevat-
for Beit Hillel’s opinion is that the ing themselves above those around
number of lights is based on the prin- them. Each day one becomes stronger, 1 Shabbat 21b.
ciple that one elevates to a higher level building one’s resistance against the 2 Ner Mitzvah II.
in matters of sanctity and one does not surrounding influences through adding 3 Shabbat 31a
downgrade – ןי ִ די ִ רֹומ ןי ֵ א ְ ו ׁש ֶ דֹ ּ ק ַּ ב ןי ִ ל ֲ ע ַ מ. more light!
4 See Letters of the Lubavitcher Rebbe,
The lighting of the Menorah was not A similar debate between their Chanukah 1961.
merely a manifestation of the military approaches to Chinuch is recorded Rabbanit Shani Taragin is Educational
miracle against the Greeks, but also a regarding a gentile who asked Sham- Director of Mizrachi and the Director of the
means to overcome the negative Helle- mai to convert him on condition he be Mizrachi Matan Lapidot Educators’ Program
nistic influences that had infiltrated the taught the entire Torah while standing shani@mizrachi.org

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