CHANUKAH
1. What does the word חנוכה stand for? (three answers)
ח' נרות והלכה כבית הלל (eight candles and the halachah follows Beis Hillel); חשמונאים נתגברו והרגו כל האויבים (the Chashmona’im overcame and killed all the enemies); חוצה נדלקים וזמנם כל הלילה (they are kindled outdoors, and the time to light them extends throughout the night).
2. In the brachah on lighting the menorah, we say “...Who has made us holy with His mitzvos and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Chanukah.” How can we say this if Chanukah is not Min Hatorah?
Because the Torah instructs us to listen to the takkanos of our Chachomim.
3. We light the menorah to commemorate the miracle of the oil. How do we commemorate the victory of the Chashmona’im over the Greeks?
(1) By celebrating the first day of Chanukah (as the miracle of the oil only began on the second day). (2) By saying Hallel and Ve’al Hanissim. (Sefer Hatoda’ah)
4. Why do we give Chanukah gelt on Chanukah?
Chanukah is connected with chinuch, and one of the ways of educating a child is to award him with gifts and money to motivate him to learn and behave properly (see Sefer Hasichos 5748, vol. 1, p. 163).
5. How many brothers did Yehuda Hamaccabee have, and what were their names?
Four (besides Yehuda): Shimon, Yochanan, Yonasan, and Eliezer. (See Rashi to Devarim 13:11)
6. What is the meaning of “Maccabee”?
(1) It stands for מי כמוכה באלים ה’; and (2) it means “strong” in Greek.
7. The menorah can be lit “until the Tarmoda’im leave [the marketplace].” Who were the Tarmoda’im?
The Tarmoda’im were a tribe who would gather twigs and branches. When everyone else would leave the marketplace and go home, they would stay in the marketplace. That way, if someone needed firewood at home, he could go back to the marketplace and buy some from them (Rashi to Shabbos 21b).
8. Why do we place a shamash near the Chanukah lights?
It is forbidden to derive benefit from the light of the menorah. We therefore light a shamash, so that if someone derives benefit from the light, it will be from the light of the shamash.
9. What is the meaning of the word “Chashmonai”?
It means “greatness,” as in the possuk יאתיו חשמנים, “great men will bring [presents]” (Tehillim 68:32).
10. Why are women accustomed not to do melachah while the Chanukah lights are burning?
Because part of the Chanukah miracle occurred with a woman—the story of Yehudis and Heliphornus.
11. If you only have enough money to buy either wine for Kiddush or oil for the Chanukah menorah, which one should you buy?
You should buy oil for the Chanukah menorah (Rambam, Hilchos Megillah V’Chanukah 4:13).
12. The miracle of the oil was seemingly only for seven days, as there was enough oil in the jug to last for one day. If so, why do we celebrate Chanukah for eight days?
There are numerous answers to this famous question. One of them is as follows: They split the oil in the jug into eight parts, and each night they lit one part. Although it was not enough for the entire night, it miraculously burned until the morning (Beis Yosef, Orach Chaim 676). (See above, question 3.)
13. Why do we eat latkes on Chanukah?
Latkes are fried in oil, and the Chanukah miracle happened with oil.
14. What happened first, the miracle of Chanukah or the miracle of Purim?
The miracle of Purim.
15. Where are the “sons of Chashmonai” mentioned in Rashi on Chumash?
Parshas Vezos Habrachah 33:11, Rashi d”h Mechatz mosnayim.
16. Why is the last day of Chanukah called Zos Chanukah?
Because the Torah reading of that day begins with the words “Zos Chanukas Hamizbeiach.”
17. Where are Chanukah lights kindled in the morning?
In shul.
18. In what way does the fifth night of Chanukah stand out from the other nights?
On this day in the year 5561 the Alter Rebbe was released from his second imprisonment. (See Sefer Hasichos 5748, vol. 1, p. 156, fn. 10 that there were elements of geulah on both the third and fifth nights.)
19. How is it possible to make a Shehecheyanu on one mitzvah twice within a few minutes?
If you light the menorah in shul after Minchah, you say Shehecheyanu, and you then repeat it when lighting the menorah at home for your family.
20. List at least three times that a woman does not do melachah and a man does.
(1) When the Chanukah lights are burning, women are accustomed not to do certain melachos (see above, question 10). (2) On Rosh Chodesh, women are accustomed not to do certain melachos. (3) After lighting the Shabbos candles but before shekiah, women may not do any melachah, while men may.
