Question: Shalom Rebbi, I’m a Yungerman in Yeshiva, and I’m Shteiging, Baruch Hashem! Every year around this time I become full with dread, because there are so many Chanukah parties I need to attend; from all the different Chaburos in Yeshiva, my shul, family, etc., which cause me to be distracted from the Yom Tov. I don’t really enjoy all these parties; all I really want to do is to continue my learning Sedarim as always. What is the right approach?
Answer: It depends on the person. Sometimes a person is holding by it, like R' Elyashiv Zatzal, for example. For him, Chanukah was just turning the next page in the Gemara. It was all about learning. He was so absorbed in his learning, that sometimes his wife lit the Menorah for him. For such a person, Chanukah is a Heilige Yom Tov and he doesn’t want to waste it. But in order to have a license to do that, you have to be R' Elyashiv. I constantly heard the Mashgiach, R' Nosson Zatzal, giving Shmuessin in Yeshiva for the Bachurim to stay in Yeshiva, and not to go home for Shabbos Chanukah. R' Rubashkin showed the world the power of what a Zos Chanukah can do... (he was freed on Zos Chanukah).
On the flip side, R' Ahron Kotler Zatzal, although he was a big Masmid, said that a person shouldn’t do things that are different than the Tzibbur. It was said of him that while there were other Iluy’im (geniuses) in Slabodka, he was known to be the “Normal’a Ilui” (the genius, yet normal). For many, Chanukah is the time to utilize the Simcha of Chanukah, and many people need that. It depends on the person, and you have to know yourself. If you are honestly holding on a level that you don’t need the Simcha, and all you need is the Blatt Gemara, then you have a point in not going. Otherwise, a person should go.
