The Rambam (Hilchos Chanukah 4:12) writes, בה להזהר אדם וצריך מאוד עד היא חביבה מצוה חנוכה נר מצות, "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 in reference to 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 spiritual level.
We will explain with a mashal:
A poor girl married a wealthy man. She felt honored to live in the large mansion that he provided. She had never experienced such vast wealth before. However, one day, she told her husband that she would prefer to live in her previous home, where she had lived before they got married.
Her husband agreed, and together they moved into the tiny home. This move made his wife extremely happy because now she knew with certainty that her husband truly loved her. When she lived in her husband's wealthy estate, she thought, "He brought me into his fancy that he enjoys. This doesn't prove that he loves me." But when she saw that her husband was prepared to give up on his pleasures and comfort to please her, that proved that he truly loved her.
Chanuka lecht is 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 tries to convince a person that he is insignificant and that it makes no difference whether he performs aveiros or mitzvos. But the light of Chanukah, lit below ten tefachim, reminds us of our importance.
The Divrei Chaim of Sanz and the Power of Chanukah
The Divrei Chaim of Sanz zt'l also teaches that Chanukah is for the people who are at very low levels. He expressed it this way: "When a king is on his throne, in his palace, the average person can't visit him. Surely, those punished by the king won't be able to visit the king. However, when the king travels around his kingdom, it's his custom to visit the prisoners in jail. When the king is there, the prisoners shout out to him, ‘King! Save us!'" This is what happens on Chanukah.
The Divrei Chaim of Sanz zt'l explained, "On Shabbos, Hashem brings us up to Him. 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, and they can become free and begin to serve Hashem properly.
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.
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 the person 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 indicates 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 serving Hashem, the Shechinah will come to him and help him rise from there.
