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I had a thought today that I’d like to share.
Chanukah is the only Jewish holiday which contains at least one Shabbos and also a Rosh Chodesh. Both Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh are things that our enemies tried to eradicate from our lives when the Chanukah miracle took place. And they did not succeed. We still enjoy Shabbos and we still celebrate Rosh Chodesh.
I was wondering why Chanukah is the only holiday that has a Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh in it. And now I think I know why. G-d is giving us the opportunity to fulfill these wonderful mitzvos specifically during the time in which we commemorate the miracles He did for us against the people who tried to eradicate these particular mitzvos. G-d is teaching us that we should never take our mitzvos for granted. That these special times of Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh (and Chanukah) are times that we must cherish and appreciate as much as we can.
That’s why G-d put Chanukah together with a Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh. We should be especially grateful to Him on the Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh during Chanukah for giving us the opportunity to celebrate such special times that our enemies tried to take away. May we always cherish our mitzvos and never take them for granted.
Thank you Emunas Itecha for giving me inspiration to think more deeply about the special time of Chanukah, which helped me think about this idea.
that is a very nice thought. When iread the question i thought of the same answeer tht u gave tht the yevanim specifically tried to take away these mitzvos.
Well-said, Middle Path.
Really great post, MP!
MP
Your dvar Torah is very nice. Just some ha’aros:
Since the oil burnt 8 days we celebrate 8 days so automatically there will be a Shabbos in there. Just saying. Also Chanukah falls on 25 Kislev in commemoration of the historical fact that the Jewish fighters rested from their battles against Syrian-Greeks on the 25th of Kislev. So again an 8 day Yom Tov starting 25 Kislev would automatically have in it a Rosh Chodesh.
MP
“We can always gain inspiration, even from things that just happen to be true.”
True. The Torah is endlessly deep and is shrouded in many levels of meaning.
This is more along the lines of the title than the OP so I hope it’s okay. I went today to visit my great aunt who is over ninety. She has buried both children and many neices and nephews (my mom and sister included) in the past few years. She has only one of nine siblings alive. In the last few weeks she has lost the will to live. She has no Torah to fall back on and sees no point. Today she asked me why she should try. She asked if there is a reason to fight. I told her that every minute is another chance to be thankful. I said she should try for all the people who get enjoyment from coming to visit her. I wanted to cry for all the emptiness inside her and I don’t ever want to forget how lucky I am to know the value of a minute, and the power of a mitzvah. Living another second to do another good deed, to say another kapitel tehillim, to have hakaras hatov for anything and everything is such a gift that I can no longer take for granted.
You are not only kind and caring but an unbelievable catalyst. May you continue to inspire so many of us to think and share.
It’s funny how the siblings of hers all made sure to give their kids the ‘american dream’ instead of ‘staying stuck in the old fashioned ways’ of their parents. But they always showed up at our house with their grandchildren on Shabbos and Yom Tov afternoons and they take so much pride in my children’s yiddishkeit. My four year old asked me after we left why my aunt was so sad. I told her that when people are old and immobile, if they think that you have to do things to be useful, then they will be sad. But if they know that Hashem is happy to have you, than they will be happy to be here.
What a profound thought, MiddlePath. I never thought of it that way! I am in need of chizuk in this area, so thanks a lot for sharing.
Syag lechochma: Your post gave me the chills. Often, I do take the mitzvos for granted, and do the mitzvos robotically. That was an eye-opener for me, and got me thinking…so thank you!
observanteen – Thanks. If you were sitting there you wouldn’t have missed it. I think my husband was fighting tears. I give you a bracha that you should pick up as much as you can from other peoples lessons so you won’t have to learn any of it the hard way! You sound so amazing for your age, I have no doubt you’ll get there.
This is a little embarrassing to share but it definitely helped me take my mitzvos more seriously. I would always tell myself (out loud in my head) that Hashem was proud of me when I did a mitzvah. Like encouraging a little kid. And if I didn’t want to do it I would tell myself how proud Hashem will be if I do. It is funny how we do things when we think someone is paying attention and actually cares. And I say it all the time so I am used to hearing it and I find myself actually feeling like He is there sometimes, cheering me on. Davening with a drop more feeling, being a tiny bit more patient, I know He noticed and I feel like I have someone to share my efforts and successes with. Over the years it’s made a huge difference in my connection to Him and other things.
Syag: Thank you so much for your encouraging words and beautiful bracha. It’s truly appreciated! BTW, I just want to say that your story inspired me to do mitzvos with more kavana and concentration. Thank you SO much!:)And thanks for sharing your “embarrassing piece”! I gained a lot. You are a true inspiration.
MP, I learned this remez in school, plus this: the eight days stands for bris milah, which is done on the eighth day. So in Chanukah we see all three mitzvos the yevanim forbade: Shabbos, Milah, Chodesh.
middlepath – thank you for the nice thought. similar to this vort:
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/kasha-of-beis-yosef#post-335139
Emunas, looks like you have some serious competition.
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