“The Sages taught: When Adam the first man saw that the day was progressively diminishing, he did not yet know that this is a normal phenomenon, and therefore he said: Woe is me; perhaps because I sinned the world is becoming dark around me and will ultimately return to the primordial state of chaos and disorder. And this is the death that was sentenced upon me from Heaven, as it is written: “And to dust shall you return” (Genesis 3:19). He arose and spent eight days in fasting and in prayer.
Once he saw that the season of the winter solstice had arrived, and saw that the day was progressively lengthening after the solstice, he said: Clearly, the days become shorter and then longer, and this is the order of the world. He went and observed a festival for eight days. Upon the next year, he observed both these eight days on which he had fasted on the previous year, and these eight days of his celebration, as days of festivities. He, Adam, established these festivals for the sake of Heaven, but they, the gentiles of later generations, established them for the sake of idol worship. (Tractate Avodah Zara, 8a, Sefaria.org)”
As I walk the streets of Kibbutz Maale Gilboa, the sun is setting outside, the sky-purple blue. The 25th of kislev is arriving on the Jewish calendar. It is the darkest time of the year. A spark of inspiration is the antidote to this disease: lighting the Chanukah candles. I step into the beit midrash, embraced by a feeling of warmth. With the other בינשי”ם beinshim (bnei yeshvia- yeshiva students) in the beit midrash, arms locked together, it is time to light the candles. Matan Chakotai, a student, sings the three blessings. Many emotions fill my heart. At the simplest level, I felt the beautiful feeling of bringing light into the world at the darkest time of the year. The same feeling that caused Adam in the midrash above to declare a holiday. For thousands of years, humans have been lighting candles at this time to bring light out of darkness. The Rambam writes: “מצות נר חנוכה חביבה היא” “the mitzvah of Chanukah candles is exceptionally dear (similar to arabic word “chabibi- my beloved”). Candle lighting is simple - just one short action of striking a match and moving your hand- yet it is so fulfilling. Whether it's a smaller “darkness” - the stress of homework, to the dark tragedies and wars (see lighting candles in ukraine), Chanukah candles show a brighter future is possible.
Secondly, I felt a strong connection to family. Singing “hanerot hallalo” and “maoz tzur” reminded me of lighting with my parents and sister back home in Silver Spring. Third, I felt a connection to Jewish identity. Chanukah celebrates the victory the maccabees to practice their religion freely (more on this tomorrow). It also connects me with generations before me who lit the candles - tradition is powerful.
With our families, friends, and community members, may we all find the simple beauty, the חביבות, in lighting Chanukah candles this year.
-Niv
Candle lighting in the Maale Gilboa Beit Midrash
Singing “Maoz Tzur”