This Chanukah arrived after very challenging times – both the war in Israel, and the horrific massacre in Australia. It is clearly a moment for reflection during a holiday that always celebrates the miracle of light. How do we find light in moments of darkness?

We acknowledge the miracles Hashem performed for us: שעשה נסים לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה. What does bazman hazeh refer to? The traditional interpretation is “in this season,” meaning this time of year, Kislev.

As a son of Holocaust survivors, when I lit the Chanukah candles in years past, I felt there was a deeper meaning to bazman hazeh. We thank Hashem for the miracles He performed for us baymin haheim “in those days” the victory of the Chashmonaim and finding the pach hashemen which led to the great miracle of the Menorah, which lit up the darkness of exile and became a cause for celebration for that time and for all times to come. But for my family, whose parents survived the Holocaust, I felt an additional need to celebrate the miracle of survival itself. There are miracles in every generation, including bazman hazeh.

The Levush indeed interprets bazman hazeh to refer to the hidden miracles that are performed at this time, for us personally and for us as a nation. We thank Hashem not only for open miracles, but for the fact that we survive calamities.

This year, emerging from the war with Hamas, is also a time for reflection on the miracles we have just experienced. When we look back, we see tragedy, but we also see the Yad Hashem in so many ways. 

Our sworn enemy Syria, for seventy-five years, collapsed almost overnight.

We were able to undermine our ruthless enemy, Hezbollah, through astonishing and miraculous means, with subterfuge and remote attacks. 

Iran, our sworn enemy that sought to annihilate us with nuclear weapons, was rendered helpless and bombed by us and our ally, the United States. 

Hamas itself was humiliated and rendered defenseless.

And then, right before Chanukah, a video surfaced of six hostages lighting a Chanukah menorah in the tunnels, singing the traditional songs of celebration, stirring deeply mixed emotions. We ask ourselves: Why were they filmed by the terrorists? For what purpose? Why were hostages given candles and enabled to light the menorah? And why did the IDF later find this video as part of the spoils of war? Is there meaning in all of this?

When I saw the video, I at once thought of the hidden pach hashemen that resulted in a miracle that brought great light to the Jewish soul. In the darkness of the tunnels, in that hellish existence, there was a miracle of light that defied all odds and all logic. We were meant to discover this formidable strength of the Jewish spirit, our ability to endure and defy all odds. This was a hidden miracle that took place in the tunnels.

The lighting of the menorah by the hostages was a Kiddush Hashem by Jews who were tortured and tragically, were later killed al Kiddush Hashem that August 2024.

We must take this lesson to heart, honor them, and light with renewed intention and celebration as we kindle the Chanukah lights. שעשה נסים לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה. We thank Hashem for the nissim v’niflaos He continues to perform for us. We may not always see miracles as they occur, but when we look back, we can recognize them. We see that His hand is with us even in galus.

We say this every day in Shemoneh Esrei: ועל נסיך שבכל יום עמנו ועל נפלאותיך וטובותיך שבכל עת ערב ובקר וצהרים and Al HaNissim follows immediately after.

We acknowledge and give thanks for the daily miracles and wonders in our lives. We say this each and every day, thanking Hashem for the miracles and kindnesses He performs for us constantly.

Al HaNissim is followed immediately by Birkat Kohanim, which itself concludes with the blessing:

יָאֵר ה׳ פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם.

The request for peace that flows from Divine illumination is beautifully rephrased in the concluding blessing of the Amidah, Sim Shalom:

בָּרְכֵנוּ אָבִינוּ כֻּלָּנוּ כְּאֶחָד בְּאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ.

The light of the Menorah is not merely physical illumination, but the radiance of Or Panecha. May the Divine countenance shine upon us, bring us blessing, unity, and ultimately shalom, kulanu ke’echad, as one people.

May these reflections serve as a source of inspiration and chizuk. I invite you to enjoy these pearls of Chanukah from my sefer Chamudei Shai on the Torah and the Holidays.

At this time of Chanukah there is even greater potential for joy and celebration: to perceive the light of the miracles of the Jewish people. We must rekindle our efforts to dedicate ourselves to spreading that light throughout the world; for ourselves, for our children, and for all of Klal Yisrael.

Chanukah Same’ach!

Joseph Geliebter

See link for a special Chanukah 5786 Chizukei Shai publication in Israel on this theme which was featured in a Chanukah lighting ceremony by a Unit of the IDF guarding Yerushalayim.

Click below:

https://bit.ly/44vDcPW

Dr. Joseph Geliebter is a clinical psychologist and author of the Chamudei Shai on the Torah and Holidays series of seforim and books, with Haskamos from gedolei HaTorah,

 available in Z. Berman Books and on Amazon.