Directives
Of The Rebbe MH"M For Chanuka
PUBLIC
MENOROS
Once
again we must urge others regarding the public menoros:
The
remaining days of Chanuka should be used...to light the Chanuka lights
in a way that publicizes the miracles in the greatest way possible, so
that every city and village, every kfar and moshav, etc.,
should light the Chanuka lights in the most public place. (If it’s
possible to light them in a number of places – even better, for the
main thing is publicizing the miracle in the greatest possible manner,
as I said, in the most public place.)
And
at this opportunity, [it is our goal] to inspire those gathered there by
lighting the Chanuka lights in their own homes, including the inner
spiritual meaning of the Chanuka lights, to illuminate the house with
the "neir mitzva v’Torah ohr" ( a mitzva is a
candle and the Torah is light), so that the house is a place of Torah, t’filla,
and chesed, a place from which light goes forth to all its
surroundings.
Another
important matter – regarding gentiles: Lighting the menora
"in the doorway of the home, on the outside" affects those on
the outside, including the gentiles. Therefore the menora
lighting should be done in the most public places in order to inspire
gentiles in their observance of the Seven Noachide Laws and to stress
that their fulfillment of these laws should be "because Hashem
commanded it in the Torah."
(Sicha
of the 6th of Chanuka, 5747, Likkutei Sichos vol. 28, p. 419)
LIGHTING
THE MENORA IN SHUL
In
order to increase the inspirational effect of the Chanuka lights, a menora
should be lit in shul (where everyone gathers) throughout the
entire day, if there is no chance at all that children will play there
[i.e., to avoid the danger].
(VaYeishev,
5750)
TO
HAVE PARTIES THROUGHOUT CHANUKA
It
is good and proper to suggest and establish that joyful parties take
place throughout all the days of Chanuka (starting with Chanuka this
year), in a way of increasing, like the lights of Chanuka themselves.
Parties
should also be made in private homes, within the family etc., as we know
the custom of the Rebbeim that "on one of the nights of Chanuka
they had a sort of farbrengen with the family etc."
Additionally,
it pays to do this in schools too, and in all work places – depending
on the conditions of place and time. Everyone should gather together to
speak about Chanuka and to make good resolutions in matters of Torah, avoda,
and chesed, and to give out Chanuka gelt.
Based
on the above, it is understood that none of this is new, because joy is
an essential component of all the mitzvos, especially during
Chanuka, when, according to the Rambam, these days were established
(also) as "days of joy."
(Sicha
of Chanuka, 5746; Sicha Parshas VaYeishev, 5748; Sicha VaYeishev, 5749)
TO
PUBLICIZE PRESENT-DAY MIRACLES CONNECTED WITH REDEMPTION
Since
everything is completed yet the Redemption has still not come, it would
be most proper to be involved in "publicizing the miracles" by
publicizing those miracles Hashem does for us today (in our times),
knowing that the final Redemption is connected with this!
How
much more so during the days of Chanuka, a time of "publicizing
miracles," one should see to it that these days are utilized, in
addition to the mivtzaim of Chanuka, also for Chassidic farbrengens
(or it can be called by a different name, in each place according to its
character, as it says, "if you go to a city, follow its
customs") each of the days of Chanuka, and to speak words of Torah
there, nigleh of Torah (the revealed part of Torah, such as halacha)
and pnimiyus ha’Torah (Chassidus), and to undertake good
resolutions in all matters of Torah and mitzvos, in a way of
increasing and adding light, and most importantly, to speak about the
present-day miracles.
(Parshas
VaYeishev, 5752)
"STAND
READY"
It
is most important to prepare for the true and complete Redemption, as
the Rebbe Rayatz put it, "stand ready"... To this extent, the
emphasis of "stand ready" on the 19th of Kislev applies to
every individual. During the eight days of Chanuka, however, the
emphasis of "stand ready" applies to the group, to all Jews
collectively.
(VaYishlach,
5749)
GIVING
CHANUKA GELT
It’s
a Jewish custom (which is Torah) to give children money on Chanuka.
Indeed, the Rebbeim had this custom. The Rebbe Rayatz related that his
father gave Chanuka gelt (on the fourth or fifth night), and the Rebbe
Rayatz himself gave Chanuka gelt to his daughters even after they were
married, and to his sons-in-law, as well.
And
concerning the additional effort in chinuch (education), it is
worthwhile and proper to give Chanuka gelt (not just once, but)
every day of Chanuka (and on Friday or Sunday to give for Shabbos), as
it has been said: "to give money to the children at least twice
during Chanuka, and ideally, every day except for Shabbos (including
permitted things [such as gifts, for example] to avoid the possibility
of giving something not permitted on Shabbos, i.e., money).
Also,
it is proper to explain to them that the money is being given in order
for them to learn more Torah, etc.
In
addition, it is proper to explain and stress to the children that the
money is theirs for them to do with as their hearts – their Jewish
hearts – desire, and certainly they will give some of it to tzedaka
(especially since there is a special emphasis on tzedaka during
Chanuka).
In
order to fulfill the directive of the Rebbeim to give Chanuka gelt
"on the fourth or fifth night of Chanuka," including negating
the concern that it becomes something ordinary – the solution is to
give double on the fourth or fifth night, or three times as much, which
sets it apart from the other nights.
(VaYeishev
5748, 5749, Mikeitz 5750)
And
to fulfill the custom of each Jewish child giving Chanuka gelt to
his friend, or brothers or sisters or relatives.
(24
Kislev, 5742)
Regarding
the Jewish custom of giving Chanuka gelt to sons and daughters, those
who did not fulfill this custom (fully), should try to make up for it in
the days following Chanuka, and whoever takes care of this meticulously
is praiseworthy.
(Mikeitz,
5750)
LIGHTING
THE MENORA IN THE DOORWAY OF THE CHILDREN’S ROOM
It
is proper to have a menora (and candle lighting) in the entrance
to the children’s room (in addition, of course, to explaining to them
the significance of the lighting of the menora, in a style
suitable for them), for this adds to their Jewish education, both
regarding 1) the children, who have a strong impression made on their
soul when they see the menora in the doorway of their room, and
regarding 2) the room, the "Mikdash Me’at," similar
to and alluding to the dedication of the Beis HaMikdash on
Chanuka.
(VaYeishev,
5748)
GIVING
MORE TZEDAKA ON CHANUKA
A
practical directives concerning Chanuka is to increase in tzedaka,
for it is known that tzedaka especially pertains to Chanuka, in
addition to the unique property tzedaka has in that it
"hastens the Redemption."
MENOROS
WITH DIAGONAL BRANCHES
It
would be proper to "restore the crown," i.e., all those who
make illustrations of the menora (in order to show how the menora
looked in the Mishkan and Mikdash) should draw the
branches as diagonally coming out of the middle branch. So too, in the
schools, etc., on the sheets they distribute. And if the menora
is depicted as a "half-bow" (rounded), the picture should be
changed and the menora made diagonal.
Based
on this, the menoros used on Chanuka should also be diagonal…
Rounded menoros (as they are shown on the Arch of Titus) should
actually make us cry out, because (and this is most important) it
contradicts Rashi and Rambam, etc., and because it gives a certain
approbation, etc., ch’v, to the image on the Arch of Titus,
which was made to cause pain to the Jews and to disgrace them!
Instead
of the shape of the menora arousing Jews to their task of being a
"light to the nations," for "it is a testimony to all
that the Divine presence rests on the Jewish people," the shape of
the [rounded] menora reminds us of exactly the opposite: how Rome
was victorious over the Jews!
(Likkutei
Sichos vol. 21, p. 169)