Rabbi’s Message Chanukah 5772
 
The Festival of Chanukah is one of the most joyous celebrations we have on our packed Jewish calendar.  This is not too surprising due to the length of the holiday and its “Duty-Free” nature.  There are very few restrictions we associate with Chanukah.  Unfortunately, sometimes the restrictions of a Yom Tov can cause some negative sentiments. 
Chanukah is also only Rabbinic in nature with no biblical source like, say, Pesach. (T- Minus four months and counting………). In fact, even the rabbinic literature has less than one may expect on the laws and customs of Chanukah.  There is no dedicated tractate of Mishnah or Talmud. All we have is a relatively brief discussion in Maseches Shabbos that touches on the laws of lighting the Menorah as an aside from a larger discussion of lighting candles for Shabbos.
Despite the lack of Talmudic space devoted to this wonderful Yom Tov, there is much to be learned from those few lines of Talmud.  Much has been written in various books of Halachah and Derush.  There is much to be learned from a technical point of Jewish Law as well as the tremendous symbolic nature of the Menorah and the miracles of Chanukah.
One discussion in particular in the aforementioned piece of Talmud deals with a dispute between Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel regarding the order of lighting.  Bais Shammai are of the opinion that we gin the first night with eight candles and we decrease the number each subsequent night.  Beis Hillel posit that we should begin with one candle and ascend in order as the nights progress. The reason given is “Ma’alin Bakodesh V’Ein Moridin” – In matters of sanctity we should always raise to a higher level rather than descend.  When it comes to our spiritual lives we must have the attitude of “Mosif V’Holeich”, we must always add and move forward.  Indeed, the Halacha as we follow reflects this attitude of Beis Hillel.
This can-do attitude is a Jewish message that reaches far beyond the technicalities of lighting the Menorah.  In all of our personal and communal spiritual endeavors we must strive elevate our goals and standards.  If we are content with the status quo then we are doomed to stagnation and paralysis.  However, if we aim to be like the lights of the Menorah that continuously rise to the peak and to greater numbers, then we will have well absorbed this most important aspect of Chanukah.
Sarah, Rachelli, Eliana, Gila, Yocheved, Adina and I wish you all an elevating Chag Urim Sameach!