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Why Do We Need

a “House” on Chanukah?

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon

I n the aftermath of the Yom Tosafot offer two explanations: 1. The the light of Torah, its commandments,

holiness, ideas and values with all of
Kippur War – Chanukah 1973
Chanukah miracle is uniquely special,
mankind. There are times, however, when
and so a blessing is made available
– soldiers asked if they were
permitted to light Chanukah
2. There are people who do not have a
candles in the field. even to those who do not light themselves; the world is not ready to receive the light
we are trying to transmit. During these
house, and are therefore unable to fulfill times of danger, when evil winds blow in
Rabbi Ya’akov Frank, grandson of the the commandment of lighting Chanukah the world, we hold on to our inner light
famed Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank zt”l, per-
mitted soldiers living in tents to light Cha- candles. Tosafot’s second answer is the and try to illuminate the light within our
house, within our homes and families.
basis of Rabbi Frank’s ruling. Without a
nukah candles, but forbade soldiers in the
field without tents from lighting candles house, it is impossible to fulfill the com- It is possible to take this one step further.
mandment of Chanukah lights!
with a blessing. Why? In order to influence the external world,
The mitzvah of Chanukah candles is radi- we must first build our own, internal
Rabbi Frank’s ruling is based upon Tosa- cally different from the mitzvot we fulfill world – our homes! We must first gather
fot, who write that a person who sees the
Chanukah lights but is not able to light on Purim. On Purim, we all gather in the all of our inner strength before we can
synagogue and read the Megillah before a
bring the light of G-d to the world in a
candles himself makes the following
blessing: “Who has wrought miracles for great audience. On Chanukah, however, profound and impactful way.
each individual lights the menorah in his
our forefathers, in those days at this time” own house. Why is the mitzvah performed Let us strengthen ourselves by constantly
(Shabbat 23a). guarding and preserving the light of Torah,
this way? Why is it necessary to light can- by being meticulous about our observing
This blessing is unusual and unique to dles in one’s home? the Torah and its commandments, and
the Chanukah candles. When it comes to Rabbi Ya’akov Moshe Charlop zt”l, a equally meticulous about maintaining
other mitzvot, like shaking a lulav, there
is no special blessing for one who cannot student of Rav Kook, explains that the high standards of morality and integrity.
On Chanukah, let us act in a priestly way
lighting of Chanukah candles is meant
fulfill the mitzvah himself but witnesses to resemble the lighting of the candles in – not only remembering the kohanim’s role
another person doing so. Why is the mitz- the Temple. However, as opposed to the in lighting the candles and shedding light
vah of Chanukah candles different?
Temple in which the kohanim are respon- on all of Am Yisrael, but also elevating our-
sible for the lighting, on Chanukah we are selves and illuminating our surroundings
all kohanim! On Chanukah, we all have the and all those who are near and far from us.
special merit to illuminate the world Chag Urim Sameach!
with the light of G-d. This is why we
light inside our homes, individually;
for we are all partners with G-d!
As a general rule, we light the can-
dles at the entrance of our homes
(Shabbat 21a). However, the Gemara
adds that in times of danger we light
the candles on a table inside of the Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon
house. Simply understood, we light is Head of Mizrachi’s Educational
inside the home because saving a life Advisory Board and Rabbinic Council.
overrides all the commandments. The He serves as the Chief Rabbi of Gush
Ritva writes that it is permissible to light Etzion, Rosh Yeshivah of the Jerusalem
inside the home even if there is merely a College of Technology and is the Founder
risk of anguish or hatred. and Chairman of Sulamot and La'Ofek.
Rav Kook, however, offers a deeper expla- Join me at the
nation. He explains that by placing World Orthodox Israel Congress Est. 1902
the candles outside, we share orthodoxisraelcongress.org 120 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS ZIONISM

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