Chanukah is a time of miracles, not only in the past but in the present as well. We all know that these days are mesugal for nisim, and who isn’t in need of a miracle?
The Mechaber is Shulchan Aruch 682:1 teaches us that throughout the eight days of Chanukah we need to say Al Hanisim in the bracha of Modim and in birchas hamazon by Node Lecha. Says the Rema, if one forgot and didn’t say Al Hanisim by the bracha of Node Lecha, then he should say it by Horachaman – “Harochamon hu yaase lanu nisim viniflaos k’shem she’asisa l’avoseinu”- we ask Hashem to perform miracles for us as He did for our forefathers back in those days. The poskim ask: We usually don’t ask for nisim; but if you forgot to say Al Hanisim in the regular place then you can ask for nisim!? And if one never forgets to say Al Hanisim then he can’t ask for miracles? How do we understand this halacha?
It must be that if one says Al Hanisim by the bracha of hoda’ah, then he doesn’t need to ask for miracles; he will automatically receive them. These days of Chanukah are mesugal for Nisim, and by praising Hashem and thanking Him through Al Hanisim in the right place, we open the heavenly gates of miraculous salvation without specifically davening for it. It’s only if one forgets to say Al Hanisim then he must specifically ask for the blessing of miracles.
The Torah tells us that Yisro heard everything that Hashem did for klal Yisroel. Later the pasuk says that Moshe Rabeinu tells Yisro all the things that happened to the yidden. Didn’t Yisro hear it already? Why did Moshe Rabeinu repeat it? Says Rashi, the idea was to get Yisro attracted to Torah. Rav Shaul Brach says that every time you talk about nisim, that is a “push button” that Hashem should continue to do more nisim. That’s because if you appreciate the nisim that Hashem has done for you until now, that creates a hisorerus that Hashem should continue to send you nisim.
“Vayisaper Moshe l’chosno” – Moshe repeated the nisim to Yisro – why? – “al odos Yisroel” – to benefit the yidden, so that Hashem should continue to shower us with nisim.
The Tevuos Shor in Sefer Bechor Shor says that we’re only not supposed to ask for miracles on an individual level, since perhaps we aren’t zoche. However, we can always ask for a nes on a communal level. That’s what we are asking for by “Harachaman” – we are davening that Hashem should make a nes for klal Yisroel as a whole as He did for our forefathers years ago.
The Ksav Sofer (Parshas Va’eira) says that when the gemora tells us that a miracle changing the laws of nature isn’t good for a person, this only refers to an open miracle. However, there is never a problem with a nes nistar, a hidden miracle, being performed for an individual. The difference is that by an open miracle, everyone knows about it and it becomes public knowledge. A hidden miracle, on the other hand, is only seen by the individual who thinks deeply and looks beyond the façade of nature.
We find the same concept when the Midrash says (Shemos Raba 9) that even though Aharon’s stick swallowed all the Egyptian’s sticks, his stick didn’t become thicker and everyone who saw it said “This is Aharon’s stick”. From here it was established, says the Midrash, that Aharon’s stick was a good symbol for the performing of miracles and wonders for klal Yisroel throughout the generations. Says the Ksav Sofer, since it was a nes nistar, a hidden miracle, it was considered a “good nes”. However, if the stick would have looked thicker, then it would be revealed to all as an open miracle, and that would not have been considered a “good miracle”.
Rav Chaim Volozhin says (nefesh Hachaim shaar 3 perek 12) a wonderous segula – if a person wants that no harm should befall him and no one should have any power to harm him, he should engrave in his heart emuna that there is no one besides Hashem and no creation can do anything unless that is what Hashem wants. Only Hashem has the power to do anything. But we have to really believe it, and then all the powers and wills of the world won’t be able do any harm. This was the hanhaga of the Brisker Rav whenever he was in a matzav of danger, he would connect himself to the words of the Nefesh Hachaim and he wouldn’t be masiach daas until the danger passed. Once he lost concentration for a second and right away the re’shaim got him. As soon as he refocused his thoughts on Emunah, they let him go. Such is the power of Emunah.
So yes, let us hope for miracles, let us pray for miracles, let us tap in to the tremendous power of these miraculous days and await salvation. Most importantly, let us thank Hashem for all the miracles He always performs for us, let us see through the mask of nature and recognize that only Hashem is in control. May we be zoche that “Harochamon hu yaase lanu nisim viniflaos k’shem she’asisa l’avoseinu”.
