It states (Tehillim 124:7) נמלטנו ואנחנו נשבר הפח, "The trap broke, and we escaped." Some say that this pasuk hints at the Chanukah lecht because נשבר ח"הפ means to break ח"פ (gematria 88) into half, you have 44, the amount of lecht that we light on Chanukah. (36 lamps, plus 8 שמשים). Some say that ח"פ alludes to Chanukah (without dividing it in half) because as we light 44 lamps below, Hashem in heaven does the same, and together there are 88, ח"פ, lamps. The Kedushas Levi (Drushim l'Chanukah ה"ד בחנוכה) adds that the roshei teivos of רנ הדליקל נוכהח is gematria 88, ח"פ. So, the pasuk refers to Chanukah, and it states, נמלטנו ואנחנו, that we escaped and were saved. This alludes to the salvations that occur on Chanukah.
He explained that in addition to his debts, he also had children to marry off, and no money for the dowry and expenses. The rebbe asked him, "What do you do for parnassah?" He answered that he sold honey but added that he only earned a paltry sum of money from each sale. The rebbe said, "Listen carefully to what I tell you: When the next person comes to buy honey, tell him a price. When he agrees, tell him you will sell it to him for double that amount. When he agrees, double the price again. Keep going on this way... Keep doubling the price, endlessly."
When the chasid left the rebbe's home, he thought to himself, "How can I ask so much money for a jar of honey?" But the rebbe's words were holy to him; he believed in tzaddikim and decided to listen to the rebbe’s instructions. He came home, and someone knocked at the door. It was the priest of the city. The priest excused himself and said, "I don't generally buy from Jews, but the person I usually buy from ran out of honey, and I need honey urgently. That's why I came to you." The Yid said, "A jar of honey costs a thousand rubles." The priest agreed to this price. Money wasn't an issue for him. He had plenty of money... and he needed the honey. The chasid stuttered a drop, and then he told the priest that the actual price was two thousand rubles. He continued in this manner, raising the price until it was enough to cover all his debts and marry off all his children, and then, he finalized the sale.
When the chasid told the rebbe the wondrous miracle that occurred, the Rebbe said, "Why did you stop? Why didn't you ask for more money? Whatever you would ask for, he would have given it to you. Even if you had told him that you would sell him the honey only if he abandoned his religion, he would have agreed to that, too. That would have brought a spirit of purity to the entire world, and then the geulah sheleimah would have come..."
The lesson is for Chanukah. There are so many miracles that occur every day. However, don't settle for small miracles. למשיחי נר ערכתי, ask for the coming of Moshiach. It can be attained.
The Gemara (Bava Kama 87.) says, רעה פגיעתן וקטן שוטה חרש. Literally, this means that when one meets up with a deaf person, an insane person, or a child, he ends up losing because if they cause him damage, they don't have to pay for it, but if he harms them, he must pay. We will explain this Chazal b'derech remez. One translation of פגיעה is tefillah (see Brachos 26:). Thus, the phrase can be translated as "The deaf, the insane, and children pray when it is רעה for them, when they have a problem." When something doesn’t go their way or they are struggling with some difficulty, they remember to pray, but when everything is good, they don't. This is the meaning of רעה פגיעתן, they pray when they have a problem. Whereas, wise people pray even when everything is good. Even after they experience a yeshua, they continue to pray because they know that things can become even better. Hashem's kindness and compassion have no limits, so why stop praying when matters start improving? Ask for more, and you will receive it.
It states (Tehillim 115:17) קה יהללו המתים לא, "Neither will the dead praise Hashem..." The Chidushei HaRim zt'l said that we can understand from this pasuk an opposite lesson. When people praise Hashem, they will live. Chanukah was established to praise Hashem, so this holiday is mesugal for a long life.
This is also alluded to in Mishlei (16:15) חיים מלך פני באור, "In the light of the King's countenance is life." With the light of Chanukah, we merit life.
Another hint is from Chazal (Shabbos 22.): "The light of Chanukah should be on the left and the mezuzah on the right." The mezuzah represents long life as it states (Devarim 11:21) בניכם וימי ימיכם ירבו למען, "So that your days may increase and the days of your children..." Also Chanukah lecht are mesugal for long life.
Rebbe Moshe Kobriner zt'l said that Chanukah lecht brings refuos to the world.
