Page 48 - HaMizrachi #25 Chanuka 2020 USA
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HOLIDAY READING
Dr. Deena Zimmerman
The Messages of the
Name of Chanukah
he name of the holiday can be from the rest of the work. The last Candles are a wonderful metaphor
understood in a number of ways. two letters – כ and ה – are the date in for education. In lighting one candle
TThe ט ָ ׁש ְּ פ, the straightforward Kislev on which the holiday falls. The from another, the fire takes hold of
explanation, is that it comes from the remaining letters spell ּונ ָ ח, they rested. the second candle, but is not dimin-
idea of the inauguration. The Torah Thus the name can also be read “they ished in the first. So too in education.
th
describes the offerings brought by the rested on the 25 ”(Machzor Vitry When a teacher passes on knowledge
nesi’im at the onset of the use of the altar Seder Chanukah 259). This version to his or her student, the student
in the Mishkan as ַ ח ֵּ בְז ִּ מ ַ ה ת ַּ כֻנ ֲ ח (Bamidbar of the name thus reflects the more gains understanding and the teacher’s
Chapter 7). This literal connection is worldly reason for the celebration of knowledge is not diminished.
most likely the reason the offerings of Chanukah, the miracle of winning
the nesi’im are the Torah reading for the battle against the Syrian-Greeks Prayers of thanks should also be an
each day of Chanukah. and the ability to rest at the end of important part of education. This can
this battle. This reason for Chanukah be more challenging as there is a nat-
ה ָּ כּונ ֲ ח, in the sense of the dedication is most closely associated with the ural tendency to offer thanks if one is
of a new structure, is also used in second commandment of Chanukah, dealt the ‘ideal’ student. It is harder to
context of the beginning of the use of the reciting of prayers of thanks such feel thanks for students who are more
the Temple built by Shlomo; multiple as Hallel and additions of portions challenging. But that too is a message
sacrifices were brought for the inau- of thanks in the Amidah and Birkat of Chanukah. The victory over the
guration of the House of G-d by the HaMazon. Greeks was not perfect. The battle
king and all of Israel (Kings 2, 8:63). raged for years after the Temple ded-
A ה ָּ כּונ ֲ ח was also performed upon However, there is yet another word ication and the Hasmonean Dynasty
the dedication of the Second Temple reflected in the name of Chanukah, lasted only 100 years. Yet every year
ְ
(Ezra 6:17) and completion of rebuild- that of ךּוּנ ִ ח, education. This is fitting we say Hallel for the victory we were
ing the walls of Jerusalem at the time too, as Chanukah celebrates the vic- given at that time. So too, we should
of return from Babylon (Nechemia tory of the Jews in regaining the cen- be thankful for all of our students and
12:27). This meaning of the name is tral part of Jewish education, the study help each of them shine their unique
most connected to the spiritual reason of Torah. In the words of the Rambam, light on the world.
for Chanukah, the rededication of the Hilchot Megillah VeChanukah Chapter
Menorah and Temple after it had been 3: “At the time of the Second Temple,
defiled by the Syrian-Greek oppres- when the Greeks ruled, they decreed
sors. This reason for Chanukah is edicts to remove Jews from their reli-
most closely associated with one of gion and to prevent their involvement
the commandments of Chanukah, the with Torah and commandments.”
lighting of candles. Therefore, the reason for the worldly
battle in the first place was to reclaim Dr. Deena Zimmerman is a pediatrician
The second stream of interpretation of the spiritual world G-d had given us and Director of yoatzot.org, a website for
the name separates the last two letters through the Torah. women’s health and halacha.
To defend a country, you need an army. But to defend humanity, you need education.
RABBI SACKS
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