The Chidushei Harim ZY’’A, said on the statement of the Gemoroh, “The Chachomim (Sages) instituted as days of song and praise.” It surely brings life. As we say in Tehillim – Hallel:
לא המתים יהללו וגו' The dead cannot praise etc....
...The following year they established and made it days of Yom Tov, Hallel and Hodo’oh etc. (Gemoroh Shabbos 21:2)
On the third day of Chanukah is the Yohrtzeit of the Be’er Mayim Chayim ZY”A. It is said on the Be’er Mayim Chaim, that after he was Toivel (immersed) himself in a Mikvah Tiharoh (ritual bath) on Erev Shabbos, he came out a head taller. He once mistakenly put on his weekday clothing after the Mikvah, and they were short on him. On a similar note, one of the Shabbos socks of the Lechevitcher got wet in the Mikvah on Erev Shabbos, so his Gabbai gave him his weekday sock and the Lechevitcher said he did not feel the Kedushas Shabbos in that foot. What are we to make of these great heightened levels? How do we even aspire to such heights? To this we can say, what every Yid must say “Mohsei yagiyu maseiy limasei Avosay – when will my actions reach the actions of The Avos (forefathers), Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov”. Tzadikim said on this, is it possible for one to reach the actions of the Avos? Rather it says “Yagiyu - Ess zohl uhnrerin – It should touch”. If a person lives with such ambitions, he will surely reach great heights in Avodas Hashem and come to fulfill HIS Tafkid – goal of achievement in this world and be a Ben Olam Habboh – one who inherits the World to Come. One who can greet Moshiach and say I have done what “I” was commanded. As the great Rebbe Reb Ziesha of Anopoli said “Zisheleh Zisheleh, you will not be asked why you did not acquire the greatness of the Rambam, Rashboh and Ritvoh. You will be questioned why you are not Zisheleh”! Every person has great altitudes that only he can fulfill, as we ask Hashem in Davening, a few times every day “Visein CHELKEINU BiSorohsechoh – give us OUR portion in you Heilige (holy) Torah.” As we are now in the days of Chanukoh, we must realize that this is in celebration and commemoration for the Neis (miracle) that Hashem did not only for the Yidden over two thousand years ago. Rather the Hashpoh (Spiritual nourishment) comes every year anew. As Seforim HaKedoshim say on the Gemoroh (Shabbos 21:2) “Lishonoh acheres kovum biHallel viHoidoh – the following year they commemorated it with joy and thanksgiving”. As when the Neis of Chanukoh happened, the Chachomim did not recognize if this was a one-time Neis, or one whose Hashpo’os returns. So, they waited for the coming year, and it was comprehended that the Kedusha of the Neis transpired again, then the Chachomim instated it as a Yom Tov.
Mipi Sforim ViSofrim
