The brachah we recite when lighting the menorah, according to the Arizal, is נרות חנוכה להדליק. The Arizal teaches that the ראשי תיבות of this brachah, when rearranged, spell the word “לחנ”. This is a profound allusion to the pasuk: פשנו נכתה חשם ל”– Our soul yearns for Hashem” (Tehillim 33:20).
This teaches us that the act of lighting the menorah symbolizes our deep longing for and connection to Hashem. It is not only the performance of a mitzvah, but also an opportunity to express our spiritual yearning and devotion.
As we approach the mitzvah of הדלקת נרות, we must recognize the immense spiritual potential of this moment, of the hadlakah process, or more correctly, experience. Before rushing off to a party or returning to our mundane daily routines, we should pause and inhale the holiness of these lights. These flames represent more than the miracle of the oil. They reflect our desire and anticipation for Hashem’s light and presence in our lives. “לשם חכתה נפשנו – Our soul yearns for Hashem.”
Let us seize this opportunity to connect deeply, allowing the flames of the menorah to illuminate not only our homes but also our hearts and souls.
Another Insight from the Arizal
As elucidated by the Sefas Emes, the Arizal offers another profound insight into the brachah of להדליק נר חנוכה, noting that the ראשי תיבות- "נחל"- align with the phrase ”נוצר חסד לאלפים” from the י“ג מידות הרחמים, the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. This phrase, which we fervently cry out on Yom Kippur in our plea for Hashem’s mercy and forgiveness, serves as a reminder of His boundless compassion and His yearning to grant us purity and renewal through teshuvah.
When we light the menorah, we reconnect with this process. The act of kindling the flames is far more than symbolic – it is transformative. It draws down Hashem’s mercy and provides us with a unique opportunity to cleanse our spiritual essence and recalibrate our focus.
As my rebbi, Rav Yaakov Moshe Katz, would often emphasize, Chanukah is a time to cleanse our spiritual “glasses,” which may have become fogged and obscured by the pervasive influences of Yavan. The נרות חנוכה are an opportunity to restore clarity and focus in our avodas Hashem. Through connecting to these sacred neiros, we strip away the layers of distraction and confusion, enabling us to experience the brilliance of Hashem’s presence once again.
This holy time of year reminds us that Hashem is our אב הרחמן, the infinitely compassionate and forgiving Father. He eagerly awaits our return, always ready to grant us a clean slate and bestow upon us the abundant goodness He has in store for us.
When we light the menorah, we invoke the attribute of “נוצר חסד לאלפים,” drawing upon Hashem’s endless kindness and mercy to renew and deepen our bond with Him. These sacred flames are not only a reminder of the miraculous events of Chanukah, but are also a glowing expression of our belief in Hashem’s infinite love, compassion, and readiness to embrace us anew.
Cold Soup
Rabbi Manis Friedman once shared the following thought:
Three thousand three hundred and fifteen years ago, G-d asked us if we would marry Him. We had an extraordinary wedding ceremony, with great special effects—we were wowed. After the wedding, He said, “I have a few things I’d like you to take care of for Me, so please... I’ll be right back.” He hasn’t been heard from since, for more than three thousand three hundred years. He has sent messengers, messages, postcards—you know, writing on the walls... but we haven’t heard a word from Him in all this time.
Imagine, a couple gets married, and the man says to his new wife, “Would you make me something to eat, please? I’ll be right back.” She begins preparing. The guy comes back 3,300 years later, walks into the house, up to the table, straight to his favorite chair, sits down, and tastes the soup that is on the table. The soup is cold.
What will his reaction be? If he’s a wise man, he won’t complain. Rather, he’ll think it’s a miracle that the house is still there, that his table and favorite chair are still there. He’ll be delighted to see a bowl of soup at his place. The soup is cold? Well, yes, over 3,300 years, soup can get cold.
Now we are expecting Moshiach. If Moshiach comes now and wants to judge, what’s he going to find? Cold soup?
He will find an incredibly healthy Jewish people. After 3,300 years, we are concerned about being Jewish, which means we are concerned about our relationship with G-d.
Yes, if Moshiach comes today, he’ll find that our soup is cold. We suffer from separation anxiety. We suffer from a loss of connection to our ancestors. We suffer a loss of connection even to our immediate family. The soup is cold. The soup is very cold. But whose fault is that? And who gets the credit for the fact that there is soup altogether?
We are a miracle. All we need to do is tap into it. We are the cure. Not only for ourselves, but also for the whole world. So let Moshiach come now and catch us here with our cold soup because we have nothing to be ashamed of. We are truly incredible. When G-d decided to marry us, He knew He was getting a really good deal.
A Jew is a child of G-d. A Jew is a prince. A Jew is the holiest of the holy. A Jew is truly one with G-d. And even when you look at yourself in the mirror and you feel disloyal, the truth is that your ultimate loyalty remains to G-d, to truth, to holiness, to purity.
Moshiach is ready to come. May we see him now!
RABBI YY JACOBSON
