On yom tov, Hashem comes down to us. On Chanukah, Hashem visits His children in prison. It is the holiday for the people imprisoned by the yetzer hara. On this holiday, Hashem comes to them.
We light Chanukah lecht outside, below ten tefachim, on the left side of the door. These details indicate that we light the Chanukah lecht to inspire and give life to those on low levels, outdoors, below ten tefachim, on the left side.
The Meor Einayim writes, "The Shechinah never descends below ten tefachim (see Succah 5). However, Hashem makes sure that no Jew will be detached from Him. So, during the miracle of Chanukah, Hashem kiveyachol comes down below ten tefachim. He comes close to man to bring him back up to Him."
One night, before lighting Chanukah lecht, the Tolna Rebbe zt'l asked a chassid who had a short wife, "When you speak to your wife, does she climb up on a chair to speak to you or do you bend down to speak with her?" After asking this question, the Rebbe lit the Chanukah lecht.
Rebbe Mordechai Dov of Hornosteipel zt'l explained the Tolna Rebbe's intention. The Gemara (Bava Metzia 59.) says, "If you have a short wife, bend down to seek her counsel." The Tolna Rebbe hinted that on Chanukah, Hashem keviyachol bends down to whichever level we are on to elevate us.
In Avodah Zarah (20:), Reb Pinchas ben Yair teaches ten steps for success in avodas Hashem. They are, זהירות ,זהירות לידי מביאה תורה לידי מביאה נקיות ,נקיות לידי מביאה זריזות ,זריזות לידי מביאה לידי מביאה טהרה ,טהרה לידי מביאה פרישות ,פרישות יראת לידי מביאה ענוה ,ענוה לידי מביאה חסידות ,חסידות רוח לידי מביאה קדושה ,קדושה לידי מביאה חטא יראת ,חטא הקודש. Ten levels are mentioned here. Chazal (Succah 5.) state, "The Shechinah never goes down below ten." This hints that one must achieve at least one of the ten levels mentioned here to connect with the Shechinah. But on Chanukah, we light the menorah below ten tefachim. This hints that on Chanukah, even if one is at a very low level and hasn’t even begun avodas Hashem, the Shechinah will come to him and help him rise from there.
The Rambam (Hilchos Chanukah 4:12) writes, להזהר אדם וצריך מאוד עד היא חביבה מצוה חנוכה נר מצות בה, "The mitzvah of lighting Chanukah lecht is an extremely beloved mitzvah, and a person must be cautious with it."
The expression חביבה מצוה, "a beloved mitzvah," is only used when describing Chanukah lecht. The Rambam even adds the words מאוד עד היא חביבה מצוה, "it is an extremely beloved mitzvah." What is so special and unique about the Chanukah lecht?
It reveals that Hashem loves us, no matter our level.
We will explain with a mashal:
A poor girl married a very wealthy man. She felt honored to live in the large mansion that he provided. She had never lived amidst so much wealth before. But one day, she told her husband that she preferred living in her previous home, where she resided before she got married.
Her husband agreed, and together they moved into the tiny home. This made his wife very happy because now she knew with certainty that her husband loved her. When she lived in her husband's wealthy estate, she thought: "He brought me to his fancy home because he lives there. Where else should he bring me? This doesn't prove that he loves me." But when she saw that her husband was prepared to give up pleasure and comfort to please her, that assured her that he loved her.
The Rambam refers to Chanuka lecht as מאוד עד חביבה מצוה an extremely beloved mitzvah, because on Chanukah, Hashem comes down to our low levels. This proves that He loves us. He comes down to us to elevate us so we can be close to Him.
When a person knows that Hashem loves him, even as he is, at his low level, this will give him strength to overcome the yetzer hara. The yetzer hara tells a person that he doesn't have significance and that it makes no difference whether he performs aveiros or mitzvos. But the light of Chanukah, lit below ten tefachim, tells us and reminds us of our importance.
In this week's parashah, Yosef HaTzaddik said to eishes Potiphar (when she enticed him to perform an aveirah, chalilah) (39:9), ממני בבית גדול איננו, “No one in this house is greater than me.” Rebbe Moshe of Kobrin zt’l explains that Yosef said, "No one is greater than me. I'm the greatest person in the world. I’m from the tzaddikim.” With this encouraging thought in mind, he was able to pass the test.
Chazal say (Sotah 49:), חוצפה דמשיחא בעקבתא יסגי, "Before Moshiach comes, there will be a lot of chutzpah." The Sfas Emes zt’l says that this Gemara alludes to the era before Moshiach, when people will have the chutzpah to say, “I'm a tzaddik! I'm special!” With this pride, they will do what's right and conquer the yetzer hara.
If a person doesn't have so much "holy chutzpah", he should at least remember the lesson of the Chanukah lecht. Even if you are on a low level, below ten tefachim, Hashem loves you and wants you. This thought will give you "light", hope, and strength to battle the yetzer hara.
