A Lesson in Emunah:
The Gemara (Shabbos 21B) states that the mitzvah is for the Chanukah neiros to burn “until the feet (of passersby) stop in the marketplace.” Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov zy”a is quoted as asking why the Gemara doesn’t say a specific time. Why does it only give a siman for when the time is? He answers that this is meant to teach us an important lesson in emunah. The neiros teach us that one should place his trust in Hashem and not in his business ventures. Just like Hashem made the small flask of oil last for eight days, He can make a person succeed in business, even if he only puts in a little bit of effort. Accordingly, Chazal are saying that the mitzvah of neiros Chanukah is “until the feet stop in the marketplace”, which means that one must do this mitzvah until he understands that he does not have to run around the marketplace all day long seeking livelihood. There comes a time when he should stop, after having done his hishtadlus, and place his trust in Hashem.
Preparing from Sukkos to Chanukah:
Rav Moshe’le Kanner zt”l was a Sanzer chasid and a son-in-law of a brother of the Tzemach Tzadik of Vizhnitz zy”a. He spent most of the year and all yomim tovim with the Sanzer Rov, but his family urged him to also travel to their uncle in Vizhnitz. Once, when the time was right, he did travel to Vizhnitz along with his family. When he arrived, the Tzemach Tzadik asked him, “What can you tell me about Sanz?” But he remained silent. He later said, “I could speak about Sanz for days on end, but since he asked me a general question about what there is to say about Sanz, I didn’t know where to start. But when he asked me a more specific question, I was able to answer him.” When the Tzemach Tzadik asked him where he was for Rosh Hashanah, he answered that he had been in Sanz. When he asked where he had been for Yom Kippur, he again said that he was in Sanz. The Tzemach Tzadik asked where he spent most of the year, and he said once more, “In Sanz.” “If so,” the Rebbe said, “tell me about Chanukah in Sanz.” Rav Moshe’le told him, “Right away on Motzoei Sukkos, the Rov begins preparing for Chanukah. He speaks about Chanukah and learns the Gemaros, halachos and Sifrei Kabbalah and Chasidus about Chanukah. When Chanukah arrives, he learns and speaks about inyanei Chanukah all day. And when it comes time to light the neiros, he sits beside them for six hours.” The Tzemach Tzadik told him, “Do you think you’re Rebbe is the only one ever like this? My father-in-law, the Ruzhiner Rebbe zy”a, had the custom that every day of Chanukah, he had to be told a story about Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov zy”a. One day, someone related that the Berditchover prepared very much for Chanukah, just like you said about the Sanzer Rov. However, there was one difference between them. The Berditchover sat for an hour longer by the menorah than the Sanzer Rov does. He sat there for seven hours.”
A Miraculous Story:
Rav Boruch of Dolina zy”a, the son of Rav Yitzchak Isaac of Ziditchoiv zy”a, spent the years after his marriage being supported in the home of his father-in-law, Rav Avrohom of Stretin zy”a. He saw that his shver spent a lot of time uttering shiros and tishbachos to Hashem after lighting the neiros Chanukah, and he wondered why his father only spent 15 minutes on the entire hadlakah. When he asked his father about this, the Ziditchoiver Rebbe answered, “In truth, it is a miracle that when I do not burn up completely when I make the brachos, and you want me to remain there for a few hours?”
Everyone Can Sanctify Themselves:
The Shem M’Shmuel writes that during Chanukah, one can build up the courage to approach Hashem and receive more kedusha than he otherwise could ever attain. At this time, anyone can feel the holiness normally only felt by bnei aliyah.
Always Prepared to do the Will of Hashem:
Sefer Divrei Chana relates that on one erev Shabbos of Chanukah, the Kalashitzer Rebbe zy”a came home from the mikvah at a late hour, just a short while before Shekiyas Hachama. His Rebbitzen was waiting for him to light the neiros Chanukah, so that she could light neiros Shabbos. The Rebbe ran to the menorah. Without even pausing to fasten the buttons of his coat or tie his belt, he made the bracha enthusiastically and lit the neiros. Rav Itzik’l of Pshevorsk zy”a was amazed that his blessing did not differ at all this time, when it was recited without any preparation, from another time when he had prepared himself for the mitzvah. He noted that it is a great madreiga to be ready and prepared to perform mitzvos properly without prior preparation.
Shehechiyanu:
Rav Osher of Stolin zy”a was extremely poor. He would light the Chanukah neiros in a simple menorah made of clay. One of his followers, R’ Dov z”l was deeply bothered by this, and he decided to purchase a beautiful menorah for the Rebbe. He traveled to the homes of many chasidim to raise the money, until he gathered a substantial sum and acquired a nice silver menorah for the Rebbe. After all his toil and travel, he arrived at the Rebbe’s home on the first evening of Chanukah carrying the menorah. But he was shocked upon hearing that the Rebbe had instructed the doorkeeper not to let him enter. This troubled him deeply - despite all the effort and hard work he had invested, he did not even merit to glimpse his Rebbe’s face. He was especially pained that the Rebbe would have to use the simple menorah again. That indeed happened that evening when the Rebbe used the clay menorah. On the second night of Chanukah, the Rebbe sent for him. He then took the gift with a smile and marveled over its beauty. During the lighting of the neiros on the new menorah, the Rebbe recited the bracha of “Shehecheyanu” with Hashem’s name. Only then did R’ Dov understand his Rebbe’s intention. He realized that he did not want to take the menorah on the first night because he wanted to recite a special bracha of “Shehecheyanu” on the precious menorah. Over time, the chasid was blessed with very remarkable children, all famous talmidei chochomim and ovdei Hashem. Rav Aharon of Stolin said about him, “How did Berel merit having such good children? This is due to the merit of my father’s menorah.”
Pawning the Menorah for Tzedakah:
Rav Yankele of Pshevorsk zy”a (quoted in Sefer Yud Gimmel Oros) related that the Sanzer Rov zy”a would regularly pawn his menorah to obtain money for tzedakah causes. Therefore, a new one was purchased for him every year. This is why many of the Rov’s menorahs are found today. Once, as Chanukah was approaching, the Sanzer Rov did not have enough money to redeem the pawned menorah. He asked his sons to ask if they had any funds for a loan, so that he could redeem the menorah in honor of the upcoming yomtov, but they too had nothing. He then he said to them, “I will manage in another way, and you will see that, G-d willing, I will light a silver menorah.” When the first night of Chanukah arrived, the Rebbe had still not obtained enough money to redeem the menorah. The hour was late, and he had not yet lit the neiros. Late at night, the well-known wealthy woman, Tamar’l from Warsaw, arrived in Sanz, and in her hand was a silver menorah. As soon as she arrived, she inquired whether the Rebbe had already lit the neiros, and when she heard that he had not, she immediately went to the Rebbe’s house and gave him the menorah. Indeed, the Rebbe lit the neiros with a silver menorah.
Supporting Lomdei Torah:
Sefer Agra D’Pirkah (Ois 306) quotes Sefer Mikdash Melech as stating that there is a segulah to support lomdei Torah during the days of Chanukah. This is a segulah to rectify sins.
Rectifying Gilgulim:
Sefer Yismach Yisroel quotes Sifrei Kabbalah as stating that giving tzedakah on Chanukah to those who fear Hashem is a segulah to rectify blemishes to this gilgal and to previous gilgulim.
Chasima Tova:
Rav Mordechai of Kuzhmir zy”a (Sefer Maamar Mordechai) writes that the letters of the word “Chanukah” are an acronym for “naasah v’nigmar chasima kol hashana” – on this day, the sealing of the judgment for the entire year is concluded.
Seeing What Will be All Year:
Rav Meir of Premishlan zy”a would say, “I can see in the holy neiros of Chanukah all that will occur this year. In each neir, I see what will occur for one-and-a-half months.”
The Angels Tremble:
Sefer Raza D’Uvda relates that Rav Meir of Kretchnif zy”a said, “Every Jew, even the simplest people, cause holy, Divine angels to be struck by trembling when they recite the brachos of ‘l’hadlik ner Chanukah’ and ‘She’asa nissim’. And when the damaging angels just see the ‘simanim’ (the blackness that remains on the wall) in the place where the neiros were lit, they flee from great fear.”
