By Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn
R’ Nachum’ke of Horodna
The time for lighting the Chanukah menorah had long passed, and the young Chofetz Chaim, spending Chanukah in the home of his revered Rebbi, R’ Nachum’ke of Horodna, could not understand why the tzaddik still hadn’t lit. Hours went by until, very late at night, R’ Nachum’ke’s wife finally came home — only then did he light the menorah.
When the Chofetz Chaim respectfully asked why he had waited so long, R’ Nachum’ke explained: “The Gemara says that if someone has money for only one candle on the Friday night of Chanukah, he must buy a Shabbos candle, because Shalom Bayis takes precedence over the Chanukah light. My wife would have been distressed had I not shown her the courtesy of waiting for her.
“If the Gemara uses Chanukah candles to teach the importance of Shalom Bayis, how could I damage Shalom Bayis through the Chanukah candles? I lit when she returned, at a time still acceptable according to halacha.”
The Chofetz Chaim R’ Sholom Schwadron
When R’ Sholom Schwadron repeated the story, he added a striking insight: Shalom Bayis also meant that when R’ Nachum’ke’s wife arrived, he did not complain that her lateness caused him to wait to perform a mitzvah — he knew even that would diminish peace in the home. (Excerpted from the ArtScroll book – “Around the Maggid’s Table”)
Reprinted from the Parshas Vayeishev 5786 email of The Weekly Vort.
