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HOLIDAY READING
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg
Chanukah
and Chinuch
The Holiday of Jewish Education
hanukah is so named because Chinuch is the initiation of a person and in both, we bring greater light
it commemorates the ה ָּ כֻנ ֲ ח, or object into the trade or art for into the world.
Cthe rededication of the Beit which it is destined, as in the educa-
HaMikdash, and particularly of the tion of a youth, the dedication of the Each Child Is a Flame
ַ ח ֵּ בְז ִ מ, the altar centerpiece of the altar, or inauguration of a house. Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch points
Temple which the Greeks had defiled out that the basic mitzvah of Chanu-
(Maharsha to Shabbat 21b). All dedi- The term chinuch is appropriate when kah is as the Gemara dictates, ׁשי ִ א רֵנ
cations are called ה ָּ כֻנ ֲ ח, such as ת ַּ כֻנ ֲ ח referring to an innate talent that a ֹותי ֵ בּו, the head of the household lights
ַ ח ֵּ בְז ִּ מ ַ ה or ן ָּ כ ְ ׁש ִּ מ ַ ה ת ַּ כֻנ ֲ ח, or in contempo- person has for a certain art, or when one candle and fulfills the mitzvah for
rary times when we buy a new home describing the preparation of a house his wife and children. However, says
and invite people for a תִי ַּ ב ַ ה ת ַּ כֻנ ֲ ח, a or object for use. the Gemara, one does the mitzvah in
dedication ceremony. It is a special word with specific defi- a mehadrin, enhanced fashion, if רֵנ
Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch explains nition, and it is used to describe the ד ָ ח ֶ א ְ ו ד ָ ח ֶ א ל ָ כ ְ ל, each person of the house
the etymology of the name ה ָּ כֻנ ֲ ח as realization of latent potential inher- lights their own.
deriving from the same root as the ent in a person or object. If we fail to Rav Hirsch suggests that yes, we can
ְ
word ךֹונ ֲ ח, to educate. Indeed, Rav actualize that potential, it will remain live life ֹותי ֵ בּו ׁשי ִ א רֵנ, if we light the fire
Hirsch says, it used to be customary concealed forever. in our own hearts, inspire ourselves
to spend time on Chanukah discuss- Our mission is to be mechanech, to and make sure we are warm. But the
ing, strategizing and recommitting to educate the person so that he will proper thing to do, the way to accom-
the importance of chinuch. become an accomplished craftsman; plish things in a mehadrin fashion, is
We know Jewish education is import- to prepare the house so that each to make sure each person in the home
is a burning flame, to inspire children
ant, but what connection does it have room fulfills its intended purpose; to burn brightly and illuminate the
to Chanukah that they should share a or to prepare the instrument so that darkness as well.
name? it performs the function for which it
was designed.” Chinuch Never Ends
What Is Chinuch? According to the Piaseczno, Jewish The Gemara continues: ן ִ מ ןי ִ ר ְ ּ ד ַ ה ְ מ
The Piaseczno Rebbe, Rav Kalony- education and Chanukah share the ןי ִ ר ְ ּ ד ַ ה ְּ מ ַ ה is to light additional candles
mus Kalman Shapira, defines chinuch exact same essence. Both are about each night. In chinuch, like in Cha-
in the introduction to his incredi- dedication, bringing potential into nukah, you can’t light one candle
ble Chovas HaTalmidim. Based on a reality, helping a person or a building and think you are done. You can’t
Rashi in Bereishit 14:14, he writes, fulfill the purpose for which it exists, teach one lesson, share one value,
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