The Business Of Chanukah
Now, this yardstick that Hashem’s business that’s our business is going to help us along the line of all our activities and that’s one of the great lessons of Chanukah. It’s one of the ideas to think about during these days: ְ אֶ ת רִ י בָ ם רַ בְ ת – You, Hashem, judged their quarrels; You fought their fight. Because that’s the greatness of the loyal nation. They fulfill what we say עֲ שֵׂ ה רְ צוֹנוֹ כִ רְ צוֹנֶ ך – Make the will of Hashem your will (Avos 2:4). What Hashem wants, that’s what we want! We don’t live our lives merely fighting for what Hashem wants. What Hashem desires becomes what we desire.
And that’s a tremendous achievement – to feel that the Torah, the upkeep of the Torah and mitzvos and Torah ideals – is our lifeblood. That’s what Chanukah is. It’s not only latkes and dreidel and parties. You can do that too, but that’s not Chanukah. These eight days are a time for acquiring an attitude: We live for our Torah! It’s my business! אַ שׁ ְ רֵ י הָ אִ י שׁ – Praiseworthy is the one who makes the Toras Hashem into his own Torah.
Have a Wonderful Shabbos and a Freilichen Chanukah!
