The Rambam writes [Laws of Chanuka 4:12]: מצות נר חנוכה מצוה חביבה היא עד מאד - The mitzva of lighting the Chanukah candle is a very dear mitzva.
What makes it so special? The Midrash tells us that HaKadosh Boruch Hu praised Aharon for having the merit of lighting the Menorah because, unlike the korbanos which cease once the Beis Hamikdash ceases to exist, the light of the Menorah will shine forever.
The obvious difficulty in understanding this Midrash is the fact that the mitzva of lighting the Menorah also depends on the presence of the Beis Hamikdash. Why then does the Midrash tell us that, in contrast to korbanos, the light of the Menorah will last forever?
The Ramban explains that the Midrash is referring to the candles of the Chashmanoyim - i.e., the candles of the Menorah that were lit by the Chashmanoyim and stayed lit miraculously for eight days. What is then the meaning of the Midrash’s words: the candles will shine forever?
The Nesivos Shalom explains that as per above-mentioned peirush of the Ramban, the Midrash means to say that when we light Chanukah candles, the light that emerges from those candles is the light of Aharon’s Menorah. Perhaps, that’s why the Rambam writes: The mitzva of lighting the Chanuka candle is a very dear mitzva – i.e., because by lighting the Chanukah menorah we merit to bring the actual light of the Menorah of the Beis Hamikdash into our homes, which, of course, has a tremendously positive effect on us and our families!
1. ”הקרבנות כל זמן שבהמ"ק קיים הם נוהגים אבל הנרות לעולם אל מול פני המנורה יאירו “(במדבר רבה בהעלותך פרשה טו סימן ו)
2. ”לא רמזו אלא לנרות חנכת חשמונאי שהיא נוהגת אף לאחר חורבן בגלותנו “.)פירוש הרמב"ן על התורה, במדבר ח:ב)
