Continuing the Light of Chanukah
Instructions and lessons of Chanukah, and continuously increase – from day to day – in all good and holy matters, persisting with such additions throughout the rest of the year.
Festival of Light
This can be inferred from all other festivals: If their influence continues to shine throughout the rest of the year, then the light of Chanukah certainly illuminates the year. (ibid, p.77, footnote 84)
Did Chanukah Reach You?
It is plainly obvious that the measuring rod by which to determine whether a person truly absorbed the messages of Chanukah into the depths of his innermost self ... is when, on the day following Chanukah, we see him continuing to fulfill the directives of Chanukah in actuality. (Eve of 5th of Teiveis 5749; Hisva’aduyos p.99-100) See the lengthy explanation there.
Based on Spiritual Instinct
There is great superiority to Chanukah activities that are continued after Chanukah: We are not doing so merely to fulfill a directive – the theme of Chanukah. Rather, these activities are an innovation that evolved from the Jewish people themselves. They therefore bear a similar virtue to that of a Rabbinic enactment over a Biblical command, or the virtue of a Jewish custom over a Rabbinic enactment. In this case, the continued Chanukah directives do not even carry the obligation of an established Jewish custom. (Parshas Mikeitz 5749; Hisva’aduyos p.77)
