“And for the wonders…”

“And they instituted these eight days of Chanukah to thank and praise Your Great Name.”

“And the intention of all these mitzvos is that we should believe in Hashem and thank Him for He created us; and this is the purpose of creation. There is no other purpose in the foremost creation. The Supreme One desires nothing but this — that man should know and thank His Creator.” (Ramban Parshas Bo)

 “And it is for this reason that  Hashem endowed us with Torah and mitzvos — which through their proper fulfillment the creation fulfills its ultimate purpose. “The more recognition of Hashem there is inherent in the mitzvah the more the mitzvah will be beloved and precious in Hashem’s eyes.” (Hagaon Rav B. Z.  Bamberger Shaarei Tzion P.47).

So wrote the Rambam: “The mitzvah of the Chanukah candle is inestimably precious and man must be exceedingly careful with it to proclaim the miracle and add praises to Hashem to thank Him for the miracles that He enacted for us.”

The mitzvah of Chanukah is infinitely precious; we light the candles with a blazing heart an internal fire. It is uniquely precious because it is not only a physical external action — but rather it is mixed with praises and thanks to Hashem. Thus it is dear because it epitomizes the purpose of all mitzvos: to unlock the heart in a burst of flames and draw us closer with love to our Creator.

Chanukah tells us that the fulfillment of mitzvos is not a technical job or a long list of tasks that we must check off at the end of the day but a connection with Hashem.

“Although all mitzvos are priceless the mitzvah of Chanukah is infinitely dear because it proclaims the special salvation that Hashem did for our forefathers. Thus the more one beautifies such a mitzvah and publicizes it the greater the recognition of the miracle will be and praise of Hashem will be increased .”

The latkes are sizzling in the frying pan; dreidels are spinning orbs of color on the floor. Friends and family knock at the door and the joyous Chanukah songs are spilling around me. The setting is so beautiful. But where is the real thing? Did I forget the purpose in all the trappings?

No. I shake myself out of my reverie. The heat of the candle touches my heart and spreads its tangible warmth throughout me. I know it and I always knew it.

“Hashem” I whisper soundlessly “the flame is still burning in the window. The candle burned like this all night long ago while its cup of oil slowly emptied. Then suddenly in the morning the spark reignighted. Just like the previous night. Eight complete days filled with fire before the astonished eyes of Our Nation.

I too have such  miracles  in my home every day. We awake every morning happy healthy comforted from yesterday’s woes forgetting the pain and sorrows of the past days and living the miracle of a new day of life. Every moment of life is a miracle.

“Hashem” I repeat “they were a tiny group of Jews who knew nothing save for the sacred words of the Gemara and lived their lives in absolute purity. A tiny untrained group. Yet one day they triumphed against the army of superpowers.  Only with the strength of Hashem.

We too live in the shadow of tall armed nations and hostile countries. We are also small weak pitiful. The world stands against us yet we will also succeed. We will succeed only with the strength of Hashem with the force of our sacred lines of the Gemara.

I am overflowing with  gratitude. This is the true meaning of Chanukah.

“And this is not an extra level of piety but an actual imperative commandment: to reflect upon the greatness of Hashem and His wonders. These reflections will lead us to increased recognition of the Kingship of Hashem. The main impact of the miracles is achieved through depicting the miracle as David HaMelech taught ‘Come and see the works of Hashem; His acts on behalf of man are awesome’ (Tehillim 66:5).

“$$separatequotes$$‘See’ emphasizes the strength of a tangible picture and observation. Through such skill a person merits recognizing  the actions of Hashem. This is the way  to merit increasing our love and recognition of Hashem .”

The flames shape themselves into pictures of mammoth elephants brass horns and endless rows of armed soldiers with swords shields and heavy armor. They shape themselves into the form of a tiny pitcher of oil sealed with the stamp of the Kohein and a special impossible miracle.… And finally it creates the shape of … me. Me living in the embrace of my Creator and His endless miracles.

“Bring me this fire” I beseech. “Fill up my small heart with Your immortal flame.

“Allow me to pour this warmth into the fulfillment of my mitzvos. To ignite a fire so that I can connect with the Ribono shel Olam. And to raise the flames in praise to my Creator.”

If only this flame would burn eternally in my heart …