Embrace Shabbat

Shabbat Hanuka

Published: December 23, 2022
Duration: 04:05

Welcome to Embrace Shabbat.

In the story of Chanukah, the Greeks specifically targeted the mitzvot of Brit Milah, Rosh Chodesh, and Shabbat. These three mitzvot convey the important principle that HaKadosh Baruch Hu wants our actions. The Greeks thought it was haughty of the Jewish people to say that their actions make a difference, and they fought strongly against it.

A story is brought down of a Greek that visited the Beit HaMikdash. He asked the Jews about some of their practices and what takes place in the Beit HaMikdash. They described the fire that comes down from Shamayim to keep the flame on the mizbeach lit. The Greek then asked why the kohanim add wood to the mizbeach each morning if G-d sends down a fire anyways. They answered, “It is a mitzvah for us to add wood; HaKadosh Baruch Hu wants our actions, and so He requires us to add the wood each day.” The Greek became enraged and shouted, “That is Jewish talk! Stop it! If I had permission from the Caesar, I would kill you all.”

This “Jewish talk” communicating our belief that HaKadosh Baruch Hu wants our activities is what made the Greeks irate and it is for this reason that they specifically targeted Brit Milah, Shabbat, and Rosh Chodesh. The mitzvah of Brit Milah communicates that man is not born complete. The Sefer HaChinuch teaches that Hakadosh Baruch Hu created man in this way to show that He wanted our involvement in finishing the world- מעשה אדם עדיף.

In his sefer Chomat Anach on Yeshaya (56:2), the Chidah teaches that Shabbat also transmits this concept. There are clear indicators from heaven- sunrise and sunset- that signify the start and end of Shabbat. However, it also needs the Jewish people to keep Shabbat- מעשה אדם עדיף. Every time we keep Shabbat, we must recognize the privilege that we have- HaKadosh Baruch Hu needs us to keep Shabbat in order for it to continue to exist. The same is true of Rosh Chodesh, where the Chachamim are in charge of instituting the calendar. This also infuriated the Greeks, which is why they banned it for the Jewish people.

The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh teaches that Hashem only made the world with the ability to last for one week. Shabbat is the neshama of creation; in order for the world to be reborn, we must keep Shabbat, which reinvigorates creation. מעשה אדם עדיף- our activities are greater and are activities are appreciated by HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

Incredibly, the sefarim point out that every Chanukah has these three mitzvot embedded in it. Chanukah lasts for eight days, symbolizing Brit Milah. It also always includes a Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh Tevet. Embedded into every Chanukah are the three areas that the Greeks attacked because of our claim that G-d wants our actions.

Furthermore, Milah, Shabbat, and Chodesh spell out משח, to anoint. מזמור שיר חנוכת also spells out משח. The anointing process is always done with oil. These two remazim point to the concept of the Menorah. The Midrash (Parshat Beha'alotcha) asks, “Why does G-d need us to light the menorah? He is the source of all light!”

The Midrash gives a mashal of a blind man that is walking throughout a city with a seeing man. As they travel together, the seeing man leads the blind man and helps him overcome obstacles on the path. When they finally arrive at the blind man’s home, the seeing man asks the blind man to turn on the lights for him. The blind man asks, “You have been leading me the whole time! Why do you need me to turn the lights on now?!” The man answered that he wanted him to feel good about somehow paying him back for all that he had done.

This is how HaKadosh Baruch Hu created the world. He gives us opportunities (i.e., mitzvot) to “pay Him back” for the good that He has given us. This is the symbolism of lighting the menorah and of Torah SheBaal Peh. In addition to the written Torah that we were gifted with, we must toil and work at the Torah SheBaal Peh, and G-d appreciates all of the Chidushim that we come up with.

This is also the message of Chanukah and Shabbat. There is something special about “Shabbat Chanukah” because it so strongly conveys this message of our actions making a difference.

Have a Shabbat Shalom.