The Special Hiddur of the Mitzvah of Ner Chanukah
In describing the mitzvah of lighting neiros Chanukah, the Gemara (Shabbos 21b) tells us that the requirement is to light one candle per house, on each night of Chanukah. The mehadrin – those who seek to beautify the mitzvah – light one candle per person, and the mehadrin min hamehadrin – those who seek to beautify the mitzvah even more – add or subtract one candle each night. According to Beis Shammai, on the first night, we start with eight candles and go down one each night. On the last night, we light only one candle. According to Beis Hillel, we start with one candle and add on another candle each night, with the last night lighting eight candles.
The Beis Halevi and the Chiddushei Harim wonder why we have such a hiddur for the mitzvah of lighting the menorah more than in all other mitzvos. But at first glance, their question is puzzling, as hiddur mitzvah is, in fact, a concept found in regard to all mitzvos. The Gemara in Shabbos (133b) learns the concept of beautifying a mitzvah from the words “זה א-לי ואנוהו, this is my G-d and I will make [the mitzvos] beautiful.” The Gemara goes on to give many examples of this, such as making a nice sukkah, or buying a nice lulav or nice tzitzis. Since there is a concept of hiddur in all mitzvos, what do they mean that the hiddur in the mitzvah of ner Chanukah is unique?
But in truth, there is something different about the hiddur of neiros Chanukah. The Brisker Rav points out that although the concept of hiddur is something we find in all mitzvos, the hiddur of ner Chanukah is unique in a number of ways:
- When it comes to other mitzvos, one does not need to pay more than another third of the price in order to add to the beauty of the mitzvah. Yet, when it comes to ner Chanukah, the additional candles being lit are much more than a third of the price of the mitzvah itself, which is one candle.
- When it comes to other mitzvos, although it is not a requirement to beautify the mitzvah, there is a mitzvah to do so. But when it comes to ner Chanukah, adding the extra candles is optional.
- The Avi Ezri adds another point. When it comes to other mitzvos, we beautify the object of the mitzvah itself, such as having nicer tefillin, or a nicer tallis. Yet, when it comes to ner Chanukah, the hiddur is not performed by enhancing the candle lit, but by adding on more candles.
So we see that although the basic concept of hiddur is found in other mitzvos, the hiddur of ner Chanukah is unique being that it is more than a third, it is only optional, and it is not in the mitzvah itself. We can now understand why the Beis Halevi and the Chiddushei Harim wondered about the special hiddur in ner Chanukah.
THE REASON FOR THE SPECIAL HID- DUR OF NER CHANUKA
The Beis Halevi answers that Chazal instituted a special level of hiddur mitzvah because this miracle provided them with a beautiful mitzvah. Since they had enough oil for one day, they could have made thinner wicks, which would only use an eighth of the oil each night, and leave them with enough oil for eight days. Yet, in order to beautify the mitzvah, they kept the regular thick wicks, to have a nice flame. The miracle of oil lasting for eight days helped them in their quest of beautifying the mitzvah. Since the mitzvah of ner Chanukah commemorates the miracle that helped them beautify the mitzvah, Chazal felt it appropriate to add a special hiddur to this mitzvah.
But one could ask on this explanation: How were they allowed to do this? If they had made thinner wicks, they would have had enough oil to last for all eight days, and by using thick wicks, they were relying on a miracle that the oil would last for eight days. How could they use thick wicks and rely on a miracle?
Interestingly, the Chiddushei Harim has a slightly different approach, which seems to address this problem. He suggests that in order to have enough oil for eight days, they actually made thinner wicks. But then a miracle occurred, and the light burned brightly as if there were thick wicks. Since the mitzvah of ner Chanukah commemorates this miracle of the bright light that burned, which enhanced the mitzvah, Chazal felt it appropriate to add a special hiddur to this mitzvah.
SUMMARY
Although the basic concept of hiddur is found in other mitzvos, the hiddur of ner Chanukah is unique. It is more than a third, it is optional, and it is done by adding on to the mitzvah.
Since ner Chanukah commemorates the miracle that helped them beautify the mitzvah, or the brighter light that burned, which enhanced the mitzvah, Chazal felt it appropriate to add a special hiddur to this mitzvah.
RABBI NACHUM SCHEINER
