There are two ways to light Chanukah candles. In fact, this was an argument between the schools of Hillel and Shammai. Hillel said to light one candle the first night and build up to eight. Shammai said to light eight candles the first night and work down to one.
The Talmud gives us the legal arguments behind their respective opinions. Shammai said we should celebrate the days that are left, while Hillel said we should celebrate the days that have passed because of how the Chanukah miracle occurred. Shammai would have you light seven candles, reflecting the seven miracles to come. But Hillel reasoned that because that little cruse of oil started to burn into its second night, you light two candles on the second night.
TWO PATHS TOWARD CHANGE
Hillel and Shammai’s debate applies to every area of growth in life. One is to lessen the harmful behavior, the other is to grow the positive behavior.
Suppose you need to break out of the terrible habit of teasing. You are disgusted by your propensity for the caustic, sarcastic remarks that slip off your tongue without notice.
Shammai says, stop cold turkey. Be your own cruelest dictator and show yourself no mercy. But remember this: The beginnings are always hardest. If you stay with it, tomorrow will be a little easier and the next day will be even easier, and it will get easier after that.
Hillel takes a different view. Hillel tells you to go easy on yourself and not worry too much if you slip up the first day despite your greatest effort. You can’t expect to be perfect from the get-go.
THE CRITICAL START
Shammai was an exacting teacher; he only accepted pupils of the highest caliber. Hillel was a populist, who took in any student who applied. Thus, Shammai developed an exacting approach and demanded a high standard from his students. Hillel developed a more welcoming approach, one that anyone can adopt.
Hillel’s approach is embedded in the way we light our Chanukah candles today. We keep growing, step by step, candle by candle, light by light and mitzvah by mitzvah. Before we know it, we will have built a huge edifice of mitzvahs, a conglomerate comprised of many little pieces, many individual lights.
When Moshiach comes, things will change. We will all be capable of living up to Shammai’s standards. This is why Jewish tradition teaches that when Moshiach comes, we will switch over to Shammai’s approach and light eight candles the first night and reduce from there.
Until that time, we will be proud and effective Hillels—lighting up the world, candle by candle, little flame, by little flame.
