Rebbe Dovid Moshe of Chortkov zt'l said: Place a gem on a velvet cloth, and it appears beautiful. Put the gem in a gold ring, and it is even more beautiful. Place the same stone in a paper bag or a dirty bowl, and it won’t have the same appeal.
The same is true with the light of Chanukah. We must create an atmosphere that is conducive for it to shine beautifully. This is hinted at in the words במושבת אור היה ישראל בני ולכל (Shemos 10:23). The אור, brilliant light of Chanukah varies, במושבתם, with its setting. The setting is created with our preparations.
A young man arrived at the Beis Yisrael's residence. He told the gabbai, Reb Chanina Shiff, "My grandfather, the Biala Rebbe (Rebbe Yechiel Yehoshua of Biala zt'l), sent me here to watch the Beis Yisrael as he prepares for Chanukah lecht."
The gabai opened the door and saw the Rebbe pacing in his room, his face aflame. The gabai quickly shut the door and said to the young man, "I don't dare disturb the Rebbe now. If you want, go in on your own."
The grandson opened the door, but when he saw the Beis Yisrael's holy face aflame, he too quickly shut the door. He was afraid to disturb him.
He returned to his grandfather and told him what he saw. His grandfather replied, "That's exactly what I wanted you to see."
After the Yesod HoAvodah of Slonim zy'a was niftar, the chassidim debated who should be their next Rebbe. One elderly person recommended that they choose the Divrei Shmuel zt'l (the Yesod HoAvodah's grandson). To explain his rationale, he shared the following story:
The Divrei Shmuel felt a special connection with the mitzvah of Chanukah lecht. He studied the halachos very well, and every year, he spent a lot of time importing olive oil for the mitzvah. One year, on erev Shabbos, he filled his menorah with his special oil and went to his grandfather's house to watch the Yesod HoAvodah light Chanukah lecht. When he returned home to light his menorah, he saw that someone had already lit the wicks he had prepared in his menorah. Since Shabbos was approaching, there wasn't enough time to prepare another olive oil menorah, so he lit one candle made from animal fats, and that was his mitzvah that night.
The elderly chasid concluded the story, saying, "The chiddush was that when he lit that one candle, he performed the mitzvah with immense joy. If he can be happy with his mitzvah, even when it wasn't performed b'hidur, as planned, he is worthy to be Rebbe."
The elderly chassid's suggestion was accepted, and the Divrei Shmuel became the next Rebbe of Slonim. The Divrei Shmuel’s attitude was passed down to his son, the Beis Avraham of Slonim zt’l. One year, on a Friday, the Beis Avraham was about to light the Chanukah menorah, and his child ran by and knocked over the menorah. The oil spilled, and there wasn't enough time before Shabbos to prepare the menorah again. The Beis Avraham said with a smile, "The same Creator Who commanded us to light Chanukah lecht commanded us not to become angry."
One year, Rebbe Yochanan of Tolna zy’a (Bayit v’Gan, Yerushalayim) lit Chanukah lecht, and was saying zemiros and Tehillim. Many people were present. Due to pushing, a child fell on the Rebbe’s Chanukah menorah, and it turned over. The Rebbe said, "My dear child, I'm so grateful to you. Now I can keep Chazal's ruling, לה זקוק אין כבתה, if the candles blow out before a half-hour passes, one isn't obligated to light the candles again. How often can I fulfill this Chazal? Thank you for giving me this opportunity!"
Instead of being angry with the child, he rejoiced that he could practice a statement from Chazal. (Afterwards, the Rebbe lit the candles again because the Mishnah Berurah rules that if a half-hour hasn’t passed, one should be machmir and rekindle the candles.)
