Page 23 - HaMizrachi #25 Chanuka 2020 USA

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi

The Power of Loneliness

e’ve reached the culmi- sitting in the dark, someone who
nation of the month of is suffering. Prayer for others is the
WKislev, whose entire nature greatest kindness, and it saves the one
is supernatural. Chanukah is above who prays from loneliness as well.
and beyond nature! Or better still, it
is natural that miracles are performed I once received a letter from a mother
at this time and the Ribono Shel Olam who told me what she prayed for on
answers our prayers. He wants to the first night of Chanukah. In front
make miracles for us, with our help. of that one lonely candle she prayed
that her only child would not grow up
On the eight days of Chanukah we lonely. That he should have a brother
have the ability to change decrees. or sister. And indeed, after much
Yes, Chanukah has the ability to actu- heartache and effort, she and her hus-
ally overturn decrees. During normal band were blessed with another son.
times, a decree is a decree. Actions uncharacteristically writes ה ָ בי ִ ב ֲ ח ה ָ ו ְ צ ִ מ
don’t help. We cannot change the דֹא ְ מ ד ַ ע אי ִ ה, it is a much loved mitzvah. On the first night, the lonely people
outcome. But on Chanukah, for eight say to the Ribono Shel Olam: “Look
days, we have the opportunity to act Lighting the First Candle Hashem, I’ve been struggling alone
and make the effort. G-d “moves over” in this darkness, yearning and asking:
(as it were) and through our interven- The first candle is ֹותי ֵ בּו ׁשי ִ א רֵנ, “one הכיא? Where are you? I’m now light-
tion, desires to perform miracles. candle per household.” Therefore, try ing a candle for You in the dark and
to at least light this candle at home. believe that my complete salvation is
There are even great secrets hidden in Even if you are a guest somewhere and imminent.”
the words of the beracha on the can- you don’t sleep at home, halachically
ְ
dles. The Sephardim say: 'ה ה ָּ ת ַ א ךּור ָּ ב you must light in your own house as Even if the candle has already been
ְ
ּונָּ ו ִ צ ְ ו וי ָ תֹו ְ צ ִ מ ְּ ב ּונ ׁ ָ ש ּ ְ ד ִ ק ר ׁ ֶ ש ֲ א ם ָ לֹוע ָ ה ך ֶ ל ֶ מ ּוני ֵ קלֹ־ ֱ א well, before or after, because it brings extinguished, keep praying. Give lone-
ה ָּ כֻנ ֲ ח רֵנ קי ִ ל ְ ד ַ ה ְ ל, while the Ashkenazim blessing to your home. liness a place in your prayer.
say: ה ָּ כֻנ ֲ ח ל ׁ ֶ ש רֵנ.
So light and bear in mind: “I am now According to Rav Soloveitchik, the
What’s the difference? One word: ל ׁ ֶ ש. invoking those days that were, those merits of our lonely people will bring

The mystic, Rabbi Ben-Tzion Mutzafi wondrous lights from the time of the the light of Mashiach. Why? Because
explains the Sephardi version: the Chanukah miracles.” one small, lone candle can eradicate
beracha contains exactly 13 words. Because in Judaism, even time is above great darkness.
According to the Arizal, through time. The redemption will come, writes
uttering each one, we reveal one of Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin,
the 13 middot haRachamim (G-d’s According to the Maharal, Rabbi when you understand: י ִ חי ׁ ִ ש ְ מ ִ ל רֵנ י ִּ ת ְ כ ַ ר ָ ע,
attributes of mercy): ,םּוח ַ ר ,ל־ק ,'ה ,'ה Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and the “I have lit a candle for my redeemer,”
Chatam Sofer, the first candle is for all
ְ
ד ֶ ס ֶ ח ר ֵ צנ .ת ֶ מ ֱ א ֶ ו ,ד ֶ ס ֶ ח ב ַ ר ְ ו ,םִי ַּ פ ַ א ך ֶ ר ֶ א ,ןּוּנ ַ ח ְ ו (Tehillim 135:17). י ִּ ת ְ כ ַ ר ָ ע, I have worth
ֹ
ה ֵּ קַנ ְ ו ה ָ א ָּ ט ַ ח ְ ו ע ַ ׁש ֶ פ ָ ו ןֹו ָ ע א ֵ ׂשנ םי ִ פ ָ ל ֲ א ָ ל. He also the lonely people. (ך ֶ ר ֶ ע ל ַ ע ַּ ב) because even in my loneli-
ֹ
explains the deeper meaning of the For anyone who feels like a lone candle ness, I illuminate a dark world.
other customs surrounding the Cha- in the dark. For those wanting to get
nukah candles, like singing Maoz Tzur. married. Or to think of others in their
loneliness and isolation.
Although customs and segulot are
not essential for the actual lighting, The first candle also corresponds to
they do serve to make the mitzvah Avraham, the epitome of kindness. Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi is a popular
even more precious, as the Rambam Be kind. Light and pray for someone Israeli teacher, speaker and writer.

Faith is what redeems us from loneliness and humanizes the world.
RABBI SACKS | 23