A Jewish holiday is not just a day off from work, or a day
to be inspired and learn a lesson from a past historical event. In its truest
sense, a Holy Day is a day that is inherently different than the days before or
afterwards. A Holy Day is by its very nature an energy that is unique to this
holy day, when compared to any of the other holydays, or even when compared to
the same holyday as it was experienced the last year, or the year to come.
By the practices and observances of a holy day that were
instituted by the Bible, and or by our great sages, we get a small glimpse and
a feel for the amazing opportunities and strengths afforded by the holiday.
For example, when someone tells you to handle an item with
extreme care and sensitivity, to wear gloves so you don’t cut yourself, and to
keep the item away from frozen substances that might melt. Although, you’re
still left in the dark regarding the exact description of what it is you are holding,
you begin to get an idea, what it is you are holding and what it may be able to
be used for.
When the Chanukah lights are lit, we are instructed to sit
by the lights for at least a half an hour. Great mystics tell us, it’s to hear
and listen to the tale each candle has to communicate with us every night.
There is something very powerful being transmitted, for those who kindle and
watch these special lights.
The code of Jewish law tells us, “the candle of Chanukah
must be placed, at the door towards the outside… and if one lives on an upper
level, they must place it by a window, towards the public domain.”
A candle is made with physical ingredients. We are
fulfilling a G-dly deed, generating a charged energy, but it is accomplished
not just through our minds and heart, with imperceptible elements. The ultimate
goal, is taking and using the physical materialistic components all around us,
as an ingredient and a main element in serving G-d, to create spirituality.
Chanukah comes from the root word of dedication and
education. Education and dedication are essentially the same accomplishment.
Both actions begin and start off something new.
The rule on Chanukah is that we must add a new candle every
night. No matter what was accomplished up until now, a new day means a brand
new chance to learn more, to do more, and dedicate ourselves every day to a
fresh new start, notwithstanding how much was accomplished up until now.
Setting something down, is giving it a place to settle. We
are not allowed to light the candle and then move it from one place to the
other. Where we light the candle is where it must remain.
Our routine in life can’t be on a shaky unsure platform
where things shift from one moment to the next according to the whims of
society. Life and its routines needs to
be permanent and on solid ground.
This realization of the above must be at the door towards
the outside. Our obligation to ,”love our friend like ourselves” means, sharing
this great lesson with as many people as possible outside your home, out in the
public.
And if someone feels he lives on an upper level, and it is
not befitting, or his time is too valuable to help others, he too must find the
window to reach someone on the outside in the public domain.
The Talmud says, “I have learnt a lot from my teachers, and
from my colleagues, but I have learnt most from my students. ‘ When a person
dedicates himself to help others, he is helped first and more than even the
people he is attempting to help.
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