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MIZRACHI EDUCATORS TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin

The End of the Beginning…

and The Beginning of the End

he Jewish calendar is divided HaShoeva (Masechet Sukkah 5:3). On eight days. The next year he instituted
into two periods of six months Chanukah, we commemorate the mira- those days as holidays.” Chazal employ
T– one beginning with Nissan as cle of finding oil by lighting candles for the exact same terminology in teaching
the “first of the months” (Shemot 12:1). eight nights. The Gemara juxtaposes us of the miracle of Chanukah: “A mir-
and the other beginning with Tishrei as the laws of wicks and oils used for the acle occurred and they lit the Menorah
“Rosh Hashanah” – the beginning of Simchat Beit HaShoeva to the laws of from it for eight days. The next year the
the year. Each period is subsequently wicks and oils used to light the Chanu- Sages instituted those days and made
divided into two tekufot (seasons) . Cha- kah candles (Shabbat 21a). them holidays with recitation of Hallel
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nukah is celebrated in the very middle Upon inaugurating the Mikdash, and special thanksgiving in prayer and
of the Tishrei–Tevet tekufa, the time Yehuda HaMaccabi commanded the blessings” (Shabbat 21b). Chanukah is
of the winter solstice. In many ways, it Jews to celebrate eight days with their the beginning of a new tekufa as day-
is therefore the end of the beginning of agricultural species, “like the days of light time increases. Remarkably, we are
the year and the beginning of the end Sukkot,” for they could not properly cel- enjoined to participate in this increase
of the six-month period. ebrate Sukkot that year (Book of Mac- of light in tandem with Hashem’s nat-
As the end of the beginning of the year, cabees II, 10:6-7). Just as King Shlomo ural solar forces.
we find numerous parallels between inaugurated the Mikdash on Sukkot With numerous vaccines for Coronavi-
Chanukah and Sukkot: (Melachim I, 8:65-6), it was purified rus poised for worldwide distribution
From Shavuot till Sukkot, Bikkurim are and inaugurated on Chanukah (hence over the next few months, the media
brought with the famous proclamation the name – “to dedicate”). is full of news of “the beginning of the
of “Arami Oved Avi.” From Sukkot till Chaggai (2:18) delivered his prophecy end of Covid-19.” Chanukah reminds
Chanukah they are brought without the concerning the reestablishment of the us that we have reached a critical junc-
proclamation (Mishnah Bikkurim 1:6). Mikdash and the success of the olive ture – we must look back at the past
The Sfat Emet (Chanukah 5644) infers harvest on the 24 of Kislev as a con- few months and reflect upon lessons
th
from this that the simcha of Sukkot tinuation of his previous prophecy on we have learned since Nissan, and
continues through Chanukah! the 21 of Tishrei (Sukkot). 3 especially from Tishrei-Sukkot, till now.
st
Beit Shammai’s position of lighting Cha- The Sfat Emet explains that the “light Now is also the time to ponder what
nukah candles in descending sequence of Sukkot” mandated by the Torah is the upcoming months of Tevet-Shevat-
from 8-1 is based on the descending reflected through the rabbinic holiday Adar may bring.
order of sacrifices offered on Sukkot of Chanukah! 4 Sukkot and Chanukah teach us that the
(Shabbat 21b). With its many parallels to the Tishrei light of one season has effects on the
Juxtaposed to the laws of the holiday holiday of Sukkot, Chanukah not only subsequent ones as well. The light of
of Sukkot in Parashat Emor, the Torah concludes the beginning of the season, Chanukah shines not just from natural
teaches us to contribute pure olive oil but is also the beginning of the end of sources. We also banish the darkness
to light the menorah in the Mikdash – a the first six months of the year, as it through our own “candle lighting” ini-
hint to Chanukah. Rav Eliezer of Worms heralds “Tekufat Tevet.” Not in an apoc- tiatives as we prepare for better and
says the holidays are connected by the alyptic sense of course; on the contrary, brighter beginnings!
number of days and by the full Hallel Chanukah reinvigorates and inspires us
(Rokeach, Hilchot Chanukah 225). to anticipate redemption in literally the 1 See Eruvin 56a-b, Sanhedrin 13a and Avodah
The Gemara invalidates Chanukah can- darkest times of the year. Zara 8a.
dles and a sukkah higher than 20 amot. 2 The Gemara (Avodah Zara 8a) records 2 Shabbat 22a (see Tosfot “ner”).
There is a principle of “Hiddur – how Adam HaRishon saw the daylight 3 See Rav Yoel Bin-Nun, “Yom Yesod Heichal
Hashem,” Megadim 12, 49-97.
Mehadrin min HaMehadrin” that hours receding and thought Hashem 4 Chanukah 5641.
applies particularly to the Four Spe- wanted to restore the world to com-
cies on Sukkot and lighting candles on plete darkness as punishment for his
Chanukah (Shulchan Aruch OC 671:2). sin. He therefore fasted for eight days Rabbanit Shani Taragin is Educational
Director of Mizrachi and the Director of
Torches of fire accompanied the spec- until he saw the daylight hours begin the Mizrachi Matan Lapidot Educators’
tacular dancing at the Simchat Beit to increase, and then he “celebrated for Program.

Moral reflection needs time the way the human body needs oxygen. | 7
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