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HOLIDAY READING

Dr. Deena Zimmerman

The Messages of the

Name of Chanukah

he name of the holiday can The last two letters – כ and ה – are Candles are a wonderful metaphor
be understood in a number of the date in Kislev on which the holi- for education. In lighting one candle
Tways. The ט ָ ׁש ְּ פ, the straight- day falls. The remaining letters spell from another, the fire takes hold of
forward explanation, is that it comes ּונ ָ ח, they rested. Thus the name can the second candle, but is not dimin-
from the idea of the inauguration. The also be read “they rested on the ished in the first. So too in education.
Torah describes the offerings brought 25 ”(Machzor Vitry Seder Chanukah When a teacher passes on knowledge
th
by the nesi’im at the onset of the use of 259). This version of the name thus to his or her student, the student
the altar in the Mishkan as ַ ח ֵּ בְז ִּ מ ַ ה ת ַּ כֻנ ֲ ח reflects the more worldly reason for gains understanding and the teacher’s
(Bamidbar Chapter 7). This literal con- the celebration of Chanukah, the mir- knowledge is not diminished.
nection is most likely the reason the acle of winning the battle against the
offerings of the nesi’im are the Torah Syrian-Greeks and the ability to rest Prayers of thanks should also be an
reading for each day of Chanukah. at the end of this battle. This reason important part of education. This can
for Chanukah is most closely associ- be more challenging as there is a nat-
ה ָּ כּונ ֲ ח, in the sense of the dedication ural tendency to offer thanks if one is
of a new structure, is also used in ated with the second commandment dealt the ‘ideal’ student. It is harder to
context of the beginning of the use of of Chanukah, the reciting of prayers
the Temple built by Shlomo; multiple of thanks such as Hallel and additions feel thanks for students who are more
sacrifices were brought for the inau- of portions of thanks in the Amidah challenging. But that too is a message
guration of the House of G-d by the and Birkat HaMazon. of Chanukah. The victory over the
king and all of Israel (Kings 2, 8:63). However, there is yet another word Greeks was not perfect. The battle
A ה ָּ כּונ ֲ ח was also performed upon reflected in the name of Chanukah, raged for years after the Temple ded-
the dedication of the Second Temple that of ךּוּנ ִ ח, education. This is fit- ication and the Hasmonean Dynasty
ְ
(Ezra 6:17) and completion of rebuild- ting too, as Chanukah celebrates the lasted only 100 years. Yet every year
ing the walls of Jerusalem at the time victory of the Jews in regaining the we say Hallel for the victory we were
of return from Babylon (Nechemia central part of Jewish education, the given at that time. So too, we should
12:27). This meaning of the name study of Torah. In the words of the be thankful for all of our students and
is most connected to the spiritual Rambam, Hilchot Megillah VeCha- help each of them shine their unique
reason for Chanukah, the rededi- nukah Chapter 3: “At the time of the light on the world.
cation of the Menorah and Temple
after it had been defiled by the Syri- Second Temple, when the Greeks
ruled, they decreed edicts to remove
an-Greek oppressors. This reason for
Chanukah is most closely associated Jews from their religion and to pre-
with one of the commandments of vent their involvement with Torah
Chanukah, the lighting of candles. and commandments.” Therefore, the
reason for the worldly battle in the
The second stream of interpreta- first place was to reclaim the spiritual Dr. Deena Zimmerman is a pediatrician
tion of the name separates the last world G-d had given us through the and Director of yoatzot.org, a website for
two letters from the rest of the work. Torah. women’s health and halacha.

42 | To defend a country, you need an army. But to defend humanity, you need education.
RABBI SACKS