darkness. Rather, on Chanukah our objective is to illuminate the darkness itself, to reveal the true essence of the darkness, how in essence, deep down, it’s not darkness but light.
It’s not money, that’s leads to greed and strife and sin. It is a tool for the most powerful connection with Amus Ein Sof Boruch Hu!
So it’s only natural that on Chanukah, we give out Chanuka gelt! On Chanukah, when we have the ability to – and we do – illuminate the darkness itself, to transform the darkness itself into light, at this time it’s not “bloeh gelt” or “yezer hora gelt” but it’s “Chanukah gelt” Because the light of Chanukah reveals the true nature and definition of this gelt!
Usually, we are able to see the purity, the holiness and G-dliness, only in things that are naturally bright. But Chanuka gives us the strength and the ability to see beyond the external coverings. The world itself, and everything that symbolizes it is in truth merely another vehicle to bring about the revealed presence of Amus down here.
This is why Chanukah has such a connection with Moshiach (when the number 8 will be so prevalent). Because, in truth, Moshiach is nothing new, it is merely recognizing the true essence of the world. It is the realization that really all along Hashem echad u’shmo echad. And, when that is visible even in the world, then Hashem is “Melech al kol ho’oretz”.
And the preparation for this is by illuminating the chutz itself, the darkness itself and the world itself. By revealing that even something so mundane as gelt is part of His ultimate plan and scheme, that it is part of Chanuka. It is part of the Chanukas hamishkan (for which purpose gold was created in the first place, as the midrash relates), it is part of Chanukas Beis haMikdash, including the Mikdash hashlishi. And, it is part of our chinuch, our education, practice and preparation for this very-soon-to-be new era.
So get out your wallets, and give Chanukah gelt to your children and/or your talmidim and your mushpa’im. (And, yes, of course, you can give to your Yeshiva and melamdim as well. And – for the advertisement -, you can give to Yeshivas Lubavitch Toronto (your alma mater) - it is always very welcome!)
And allow your perspective of gelt, of velt, to be transformed!
L’chaim! Let us all fulfill the Rebbe’s enthusiastic hora’ah every Chanuka to give Chanukah gelt to those to whom we should be giving, and may the Eibishter in turn fulfill the hora’ah – magid dvorov leYaakov – and give his beloved children Chanukah gelt, both in the literal sense – lots and lots of money (according to His hasagos), and especially the long-awaited Chanukah gelt for which we’re waiting and begging for, - the complete and immediate revelation of Moshiach Tzidkeinu TUMYM!!!
Rabbi Akiva Wagner
לזכות 'ר שלום מרדכי הלוי בן, רבקה לגאולה וישועה קרובה, ושלימה י"תומ ממש ג"ב טוהנוהנ!
