On Chanuka and Purim we say Al Hanissim. On Chanuka we say Bemei Mattisyahu, In the days of Mattisyahu the son of Yochanan Kohen Gadol. On Purim we say Bemei Mordechai Ve'Esther, In the days of Mordechai and Esther. Why by Mattisyahu does it mention he was the son of Yochanan Kohen Gadol whereas by Mordechai it does not say he was the son of Yair?
It is brought down that the father of Mattisyahu was the famous Yochanan the Kohen Gadol who after 80 years serving in the Beis Hamikdash and taking the Ketores 80 times into the Kodesh Hakadashim on Yom Kippur became a Tzedoki! If so, why do we mention his name?
Rabbi Baruch from Mezbuz and Rabbi Yisrael from Ruzin give the following interesting answer.
How did Yochanan become a Tzedoki?
On Yom Kippur the Kohen Gadol brings the Ketores into the Kodesh Hakadashim. The Chachamim ruled that the Kohen Gadol holds the Ketores in one hand and a shovel with the burning coals in the other hand, enters the Kodesh Hakadashim, empties the ketores onto the fire and puts it next to the Aron. The Tzedokim didn't follow the ruling of the Chachamim and they held that the Kohen Gadol had to empty the Ketores onto the burning coals before entering the Kodesh Hakadashim, and with the burning Ketores enter the Kodesh Hakadashim, which according to the Chachamim the Avoda is Passul.
