We can now connect all of this with that which is brought down in the continuation of the above mentioned Maamorim. The concept regarding the kindling of the Chanukah lamps; namely, there is a debate between the school of Shamai and the school of Hillel. The school of Shamai says: “On the first eve of Chanukah, one must kindle eight lamps and then reduce one lamp every night.” (thus following the same [descending] order that the Torah instructs in bringing the sacrifices during the festival of Succos). Whereas, [by contrast] the school of Hillel says that on the first eve we must light one lamp and for each new day of Chanukah we light an additional lamp (thereby increasing in holiness etc.). Even though the ruling (Halacha) is in accordance with the opinion of the school of Hillel, including the further allusion within the name of Chanukah itself viz. that the Name Chanukah in Hebrew is an acronym for Eight lights and the ruling follows, Beis Hillel, notwithstanding this, it is known that “these and these are [equally] the word of the living G-d...” and furthermore, one may even discuss in speech the opinion of the school of Shamai with regards to spiritual matters [and] to the extent that it has an effect on one’s materiality [and] even in [lesser level] action (whereby the moving of one’s lips during the aforementioned discussion is also considered as an action).
[All of this,] in other words, constitutes a lesson in Avodas Hashem [by discussing and learning] the opinion of Beis Shamai. And so it can be said, that these two opinions of Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel (decreasing in light and increasing in light) correspond to the same two concepts represented by the recitation of Hallel and Hodo’oh: 1 Drawing down Hashem and 2 elevating oneself. And as has been understood from the elucidations explained in Likkutei Torah in the Maamor from Shir Hashirim starting with the words “Keitzad Merakdim Lifnei Hakkaloh” concerning the fundamental thrust of Beis Shamai versus the fundamental thrust of Beis Hillel. Lies in that the name Hillel can also be found within the words in the Possuk that mean that “Hashem kindles a lamp on to me to illumine my darkness.”
