Page 12 - HaMizrachi #25 Chanuka 2020 USA

TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Danny Mirvis

The Singular Light

of Chanukah

which night of Chanukah it is. Seeing in the future when the realization is
as any additional lights are a hiddur clear to all that all the individual
(beautification) and not part of the lights are really one light. Therefore,
core commandment, they are not the Chanukah blessing does not
included in the blessing. mention lights (in the plural), for
it focuses its attention towards the
(This answer is less straightforward, more exalted distance, towards the
however, when coming to explain why
each member of Ashkenazi house- more supreme future” (Olat Re’iyah
holds makes a blessing. Unless we Vol.1, page 435).
require every member of the house- The world has many lofty values and
hold to actively or passively exclude priorities. Whilst each of these indi-
themselves from being included in vidual “lights” has an important role
the blessings made by others, we may to play, they can also become a source
need to assume that one does in fact of conflict as they compete for sig-
make a blessing on a hiddur and our nificance and superiority. In truth,
original question remains.)
however, “all the individual lights are
Rav Kook addressed this question really one light” – from a spiritual per-
in his commentary on Tefillah, Olat spective, all these important values
Re’iyah. For him, the blessing we originate from a singular source and
make on Chanukah is not only about are destined to reunite in harmonious
the technical act being performed at unity. The less we argue and the more
that moment. It represents the inner we recognize “the supreme purpose of
nature of light and the supreme pur- life,” the more holiness can be estab-
very night of Chanukah, we light pose of life: lished in the world.
numerous lights, ascending in
Enumber each day. Many families “Chanukah… depicts all the sources Thus on Chanukah, we light numer-
(following the predominant Ashkenazi of light that need to radiate in the ous separate lights, as indeed there are
custom) do not suffice with one set of Nation: the light of Torah, the light multiple ways to find light and share
lights, but light several sets, correspond- of prophecy, the light of wisdom, the light in this world. While acknowledg-
ing to the number of members of the light of justice, the light of courage, ing the plurality of lights, the ultimate
household. the light of joy, the light of lovingk- ideal is reflected in our blessing of
indness, the light of love, etc. How-
With so many lights being lit, why ever, prior to the realization of the peace and unity – “To kindle the (sin-
do we bless in the singular form, “To supreme purpose of life, these many gular) Chanukah light.”
kindle the Chanukah light,” as opposed individual lights appear to us as if
to the seemingly more appropriate they are separate matters…
blessing, “To kindle the Chanukah
lights”? However, the distinctions will not
last forever, for as long as there
On a straightforward level, one can are arguments, holiness cannot
answer that we make a blessing on be established in the world. The
the basic requirement of one light per essence of this blessing is the bless- Rabbi Danny Mirvis is the Senior Rabbi of
household per night, regardless of ing for peace, and it will be fulfilled Mizrachi Melbourne.

Jewish unity is a cause that is not advanced by the advocacy of one point of view over another.
It demands the difficult but not impossible exercise of thinking non-adjectivally as a Jew:
12 | not as a member of this or that group, but as a member of an indivisible people.
RABBI SACKS