A Tzadik Provides Parnassah for the World:
Sefer Tiferes Shlomo writes that a tzadik is a pipeline for bracha to flow to this world. This is seen from the verse (Bereishis 47:12) that says that Yosef fed (vayechalechel) his brothers.” The word ”vayechalchel” contains the word “kol” twice, which is a hint to the two brachos that come to this world through a tzadik – physical blessings that a person needs to live and spiritual blessings that a person needs to remain holy and sanctified.
He adds that this is also hinted to in the Gemara (Shabbos 21B) that says that one must add an extra neir on Chanukah “to use for its light.” This extra light is needed because it is stated (ibid 22A) that one may not count money by the light of the Chanukah neiros. One may not engage in earthly matters by the light of the neiros because the Chanukah lights are holy and, as we recite in Haneros Halalu, “we have no permission to make use of them” for personal matters. This is a hint that one may only use holy things as a means to ask for Divine wisdom and kedusha. The Chochomim advise us that we need “another light” – the shamash that stands higher than the other neiros – as a means to receive all the blessing we need. This shamash is representative of a tzadik who looks out for the good of the public and ensures that we receive holy blessings in all areas.
This is also hinted to in this pasuk that says that “Yosef hurried because his mercy was stirred... and he went to the room and wept there... and he restrained himself and said to serve the food.” When a tzadik’s compassion is stirred because of the length of the golus, he is brought to tears because he may not force the geulah. However, he can say to “serve the food”, meaning that he can provide goodness at this time.
Rectifying Neshamos:
Sefer Tiferes Shlomo writes that Shabbos Chanukah is an auspicious time to create a tikkun for neshamos that have passed on from this world but have no rest in the Upper World even on Shabbos. It is known that on every erev Shabbos, the neshamos have an aliyah and rise to higher spheres, which pushes the neshamos that have no aliyah downward. These neshamos are of people who marred their souls in a manner that doesn’t allow them to ascend to their rightful place. On Shabbos Chanukah, even these souls can ascend to lofty places.
More Hislahavus Than Any Other Shabbos:
The Magid of Trisk zy”a (Sefer Magen Avrohom) writes that the first letters of the words “olas Shabbos b’shabato al olas hatamid” have the same gematriah as the words “l’hadlik neir Chanukah.” This is a hint that this Shabbos is loftier (olas) than all other Shabbosim.
He adds that the word ”hadlakah” connotes ”hislahavaus” (enthusiasm), which indicates that the enthusiasm of serving Hashem on Shabbos Chanukah is greater than the hislahavus of all other Shabbosim.
Finally, he notes that the word ”v’niska” is made up of the words ”nas kah” (to run there). This is a hint that through this hislahavus, one can run away from all klipos and damaging forces that could harm him.
Playing Dreidel:
Sefer Divrei Chana (Kaloshitz) relates that the Shinova Rov zy”a told the Kalashitzer Rebbe zy”a that when he was a child, he once came to the bais medrash to learn on one of the night of Chanukah. As he sat and learned, his father, the Sanzer Rov zy”a, came in to light the menorah, and he continued learning diligently. However, he was stumped by a question he had on the Gemara that he couldn’t come up with an answer for.
Meanwhile, a group of his friends came in to the bais medrash to play cards. They asked him to play with them and he said that he first had to think of an answer to his question. One of his friends asked what the question was and he told it to him. Immediately, the friend suggested a good answer. The Shinova Rov then told him, “It seems like the Satan put this answer into your head so that I would stop learning. Therefore, I commit to never place cards again, as it is clear that that’s what the Satan wants me to do.”
The Shinova Rov concluded, “From that day on, I never again played cards. However, I do play dreidel because that is a minhag Yisroel.”
The Avodah of Zos Chanukah Remained With Him:
The Ruzhiner Rebbe zy”a once came into his kloiz on the day of Zos Chanukah and found a group of a chasidim playing dreidel. He told them, “Keep playing dreidel because whatever you gained from the first days of Chanukah you are not assured of keeping because it can easily be lost tomorrow in the ‘new game’. But whatever you gain on Zos Chanukah will not be easily lost. It will surely stay with you.”
Neir Shemini – the Bechina of Shemini Atzeres:
The Bais Aharon writes: Many things are on “the eighth”. Milah is on the eighth day. Shemini Atzeres is the eighth day of Sukkos. On this day, there is a perfect connection of all ”yichudim” that were made during the entire month and completed on Shemini Atzeres. And on Chanukah, we kindle eight lights. It seems to me that the eighth day of Chanukah has the same bechina as Shemini Atzreres. Therefore, tzadikim call this day “the final seal”.
An Auspicious Time for Tefillah:
It is said in the name of Rav Elazar of Lizhensk zy”a that there are three times that are auspicious to daven for gashmius matters. One is during the seudah of Melava Malka, the second is on Shemini Atzeres, and the third is on Zos Chanukah.
He explains with a parable of a king who visited a certain city. The residents were very poor but they did their best to prepare as fancy a welcoming party as possible. They put in so much effort to make it nice, that one wouldn’t have been able to tell how poor they were. But when it came time for the king to leave, they prostrated themselves before him and cried about how impoverished they were, begging him to help them with their needs.
So too, Hashem comes to visit us every Shabbos and yomtov, and we honor Him with our best clothing and food. On Shabbos, one cannot tell how needy we are. But when Shabbos, yomtov or Chanukah comes to an end, and we are forced to part from Hashem, so to speak, it is an auspicious time to daven to Him and beg him to provide us with our needs.
