What are the Candles Telling Us? By Sivan Rahav-Meir

The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 22, 2022

What Are The Candles Telling Us?

By Sivan Rahav-Meir

The holiday of Chanukah marks the victory of the Chashmonaim in their rebellion against the Greeks, the rededication of the Holy Temple, and the miracle of the jug of oil. The Sages of Israel gave instructions to celebrate it by lighting candles, giving thanks, and rejoicing for eight days.

In the words of a famous chassidic saying: “We need to listen to what the candles are telling us.” Here are several lessons our Sages learned from the chanukiyah that apply not only to Chanukah but to our lives throughout the year. 1. Appreciate the importance of tradition. Unlike many other holidays, the events of Chanukah do not appear in the Tanach, as they took place later. Instead, over many generations, the Sages developed the laws and customs we keep today. Thus, the essence of the holiday teaches us about the importance of tradition, the words of our Sages, and the Oral Torah. 2. Prepare for darkness. We do not light the candles in the morning, but rather when darkness falls. We are not taken aback by the darkness but know that periods of darkness are part of life. It is precisely when darkness comes that we need to be prepared, knowing that such times call upon us to bring light. 3. Illuminate the street. We do not light candles solely to light up our homes on the inside; we also make sure our candles can be seen from the outside. We must strive to light up the street, the world outside. 4. Increase light. The manner of lighting on Chanukah is known as “mosif veholech” (steadily adding or always doing more). Every day, another candle is added. It does not matter how much we did yesterday, we must move forward and do a little bit more each day.

5. Strive for stability. The candles are set in a certain place and must not be moved. A Jew must know that the light and values in his life are rooted in his soul, infuse his daily activities, and are secure. No one can confuse or move him from fulfilling his purpose. 6. Give light to others so they can continue to shine. After we light them, the candles continue to shine on their own. When we educate and influence others, we need to make sure that what we teach is meaningful. If we do this, our students will give light on their own throughout their lives.

The LeZion Berina Institute in Beitar Illit is a high school for new immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Several years ago, Knesset member Yuli Edelstein visited there and told the students one of the most inspiring stories about Chanukah that I have ever heard.

Edelstein spoke about what happened on December 19, 1984, the day on which he was sentenced to three years in a forced labor camp in southern Siberia. The official charge was drug possession, but the real reason for his sentence was his Zionist and Jewish activism. Edelstein told his story as follows: “This was after three months of solitary confinement. I arrived at the courthouse for the reading of my sentence. The courtroom was full of police and security officers. At a typical trial, it is permitted for relatives to come, but they filled every seat with security personnel in order to prevent family members from being seated. Only my wife and mother managed to get inside.” After the verdict was read, police surrounded twenty-six-year-old Edelstein and escorted him to his prison cell. On the way, he somehow managed to push his head through the ring of guards. He had only one thing to say to his wife, whom he had not seen in three months and might not see again for many years. What was it that he was compelled to shout at this moment?

“Tanya, which candle is it today?”

The Russian security officers thought that the prisoner, upon hearing his heavy punishment, had gone mad. At first, his wife actually thought the same. She did not understand what he was talking about. But then he shouted again, “Tanya, which candle is it today?” Only after the third time did she come to her senses and shout back, “Tonight we light the second candle!”

This was the morning of the first day of Chanukah 5744 (1984). Yuli Edelstein did not have a calendar in solitary confinement, but while listening to the verdict, he heard the secular date announced and realized that Chanukah was supposed to begin around that time of the year. It was important to him to know how many candles were to be lit that day.

Edelstein grew up in an assimilated family but had discovered Judaism and become observant. That evening, no longer in solitary confinement but in a cell with other prisoners, he somehow managed to get hold of two matches. He stood next to the bars of his jail cell window and lit the two matches.