# Chanukah

מקור: https://rabenu.app/books/chanukah/

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## Chanukah

Chanukah

**(A compilation from Breslov literature)**

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman

On Chanukah, everyone draws the holiness of the Chanukah Lights in his home, which are the aspect of the Light of the True Tzaddik who is Moses Messiah, who kindles and illuminates all the Jewish souls with a Great Light even amidst all kinds of darkness and gloom and saves them from the torrent of the Biblical flood’s waters of heresies and false faiths which bring the world to desolation and void, God forbid.
(Ebay Hanachal – Chanukah, 5724)

Chanukah

**1**

**It was our custom to be with him on Rosh Hashana, on Shabbos Chanukah, and the holiday of Shavuot. We were always by him at these three times from the day he established his home here in Breslov. And he would command and warn us to be with him at these three times. And he would always say a wondrous Torah at great length in these times.
(Chayei Moharan 126)**

2

**Everyone in accordance to how he merited to manifest the request “Please forgive” on Yom Kippur – through which the blemish of the Temple’s destruction becomes rectified – so is the aspect of the Inauguration of the House produced, the aspect of Chanukah. It comes out that Chanukah is made through “Please forgive”. Therefore, our Teacher Moses, peace upon him, hinted the combination of Chanukah in the verse of “Please forgive”; for the initials of “Please forgive the sin of this nation like the magnitude of Your loving-kindness, and like You have carried…”(Shmot) forms Chanukah, since Chanukah is made through “Please forgive”.
(Likutei Moharan, Vol. 2 – 7:11)**

3

**The following is the aspect of this that we play with the dreidel on Chanukah: because Chanukah is the aspect of the Temple, and the main building of the Temple is the aspect of a turning wheel. For there was an aspect of “Those on top are on the bottom, and those on the bottom are on top” in the Temple, as is written regarding the Tabernacle, “Make for me a Tabernacle and I will dwell in their midst” – that so to speak, God rested His Divine Presence down below in the Tabernacle and Temple, which this is the aspect “Those on top are on the bottom”. And likewise, the opposite: all the Pictures of the Tabernacle were inscribed above – this is the aspect of “those on the bottom are on top”, which is the aspect of the dreidel, the aspect of a turning wheel, that everything reverses and turns over. This is the aspect of the Redemption, for the main Redemption is that there will be the aforementioned aspect. That is, the aspect of a continuous cycle, the aspect of “Those on top are on the bottom, and those on the bottom are on top” that was in the Temple. Because this is the primary Redemption: there will be the building of the Temple where the aforementioned aspect of a turning wheel is, the aspect of “Those on top are on the bottom, and those on the bottom are on top” (which is the ultimate purpose). Because in truth, it is all one, for everything is one in the root. See the discourse said on Chanukah which starts, “And it was at the end; For he who has mercy on them will lead them” [Likutei Moharan, Vol. 2 – 7]. Over there is also explained from the matter of “Those on top are on the bottom, and those on the bottom are on top”, and from the matter of Chanukah which is the inauguration of the Temple; see there.
(Sichos HaRan 40)**

4

**The days of Chanukah are approaching, and the matter of the Inauguration of the House that our Master and Teacher Rabbeinu Z”l revealed, certainly happens every year – that in accordance with the “Please forgive” of Yom Kippur, etc. Because behold, in the eventual end the Temple will certainly be built speedily in our days, and its whole construction will be through the aforementioned aspect. And it is built little by little every single year until it will be completed speedily. Therefore, each Jew needs to partake in the Inauguration of the House every single year; and one merits to this in accordance with the “Please forgive” of Yom Kippur. And now also, we still have to pray that the “Please forgive” of Yom Kippur shall be received. Because we have to return to God every day, which is the aspect of the holiness of Yom Kippur which we draw throughout the whole year. And accordingly, one merits to the Inauguration of the House which is the aspect of the illumination of a son and student – to inform the dwellers above and the dwellers below of God’s greatness and kingdom, etc. And the main thing is to inform all the extremely, extremely lowly ones in this lowly world, that the whole land is full of His Honor, as in the aspect of, “Wake up and sing dwellers of the dirt…” Givald, my hearty brother, such awesome, new things shall not become old in your eyes! In truth, they are brand new to me every day and every time, and I cannot divert my mind from marveling over such wonders, such novelties, that are absolutely, absolutely indispensable for every person – to enliven, inspire, awaken, and uplift him from wherever he is, etc. Fortunate are we that we merited to hear all this.
(Alim L’trufah 109)**

5

**Great are the actions of God, His thoughts exceedingly, exceedingly deepen; for his words are alive, enduring, faithful, and coveted forever and ever, etc., and enliven at all times in general and individually for every one wherever he is. And they reach you individually as well, now and now as well – however you are, however your heart is surrounded with sorrow, however they make your heart crooked, etc. Now as well you need to remind yourself anew that there was a Rebbe in the world and his light shines and illuminates anew every day now also and likewise for generations – in that he enlightens the illumination of a son and student to each person wherever he is, to know and inform everyone at all times that God is still with you, near you, and by you, since the whole land is filled with His Honor, and He both fills all the worlds and surrounds all worlds, and there is no place empty from Him; and no matter what will be, no matter what will be, you will certainly have a rectification. And to God is the hope is that our rectification that will be through him will be nice and beautiful as is befitting him, not as our actions, so that we won’t be ashamed even before true kosher ones. Because His loving-kindness has grown strong upon us, His loving-kindness is great upon us, etc. that we have merited to not oppose, God forbid, such a holy, awesome, blissful, etc. Light; we have even merited to know from him and be called by his Name which ascends everything. And there is no darkness or depths of hell that can conceal such a Light that shines in us, in every person at all times, in whatever place he is, with his paths of deep solutions, that we don’t know anything at all. Just be strong and courageous my dear son; get up and call to your Almighty at all times, strengthen and encourage your heart to gladden your soul with every good point, with something from something, a point of a good point; grab and eat, grab and eat Torah, prayer, charity, and good deeds every day whatever you can. Because no matter what happens, the short time of our lives will change and pass on like the passing shade, and what we merited to know from the eternally enduring True Light will definitely remain for us forever, and it’s impossible to expatiate in this further in writing.**

Behold, I have written you most of Chanukah’s intentions which are extremely indispensable for you. Now, be smart my son, and gladden my heart; understand the hints in the sea of wisdom from afar. Because this sea is massive and broad etc. Be careful not to be a shlimazelnik, God forbid; and if in your eyes, you are who you are, nevertheless, every good motion, advance, or movement from bad to good, be it ever so small, is very precious by God. Gird your loins now like a man for we have whom to lean upon, praises to God. And remember what Rabbeinu Z”l related from the Tzaddik who said prior to his passing, “*Iber gishpringen*” [I have skipped over (this world)], and also what he said that a person has to traverse a narrow bridge in this world, and the main thing is to not be afraid.
(Alim L’trufa 404)

6

**The days of Chanukah are approaching and I wrote a letter this hour to our friend, Rabbi Abbele, he shall live, and people of our persuasion, and I reminded them a little of the wondrous awesomeness we heard about Chanukah, fortunate are we, etc. Right now, all my passion and thoughts pertaining to the matter of the holy Chanukah are to merit happiness, and He has already helped me a lot with His wondrous loving-kindness to originate in this with His wondrous loving-kindness. But who will give that we merit to fulfill, to always merit to joy, as he encouraged us greatly about this with many ways and deep, wondrous, and awesome solutions? We will rejoice and be happy with his salvation.**

The words of your lover in truth for eternity, Nosson of Breslov.
(Alim L’trufa 444)

7

**The days of Chanukah are days of thanks, as is written, “They established these eight days of Chanukah to give thanks and extol” etc. And days of thanks are the aspect of the delight of the World to Come, for this is the main delight of the World to Come – to give thanks and extol His great Name and recognize Him, Blessed is He. Through which we are near and close to Him, Blessed is He; because however much more we know and recognize Him, we are closer to him. Because everything else will become nullified in the future, in the aspect of, “All sacrifices will be nullified except for the thanksgiving sacrifice” – that only the aspect of thanks and acknowledgment will remain in the future, to thank and extol and know Him, Blessed is He, as is written, “For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the God, as the waters cover the sea”, which is the entire delight of the World to Come.
(Likutei Moharan Vol. 2 – 2:1)**

8

**With God’s help. Tuesday, 2nd day of Chanukah, 5604.
The Master of Miracles shall perform miracles and wonders to save you in all that you need to be saved.**

There isn’t what to originate, in what is under to sun; however, since God summoned the deliverer of this letter to the house of my brother-in-law, Rabbi Baruch, may his light shine, I said I won’t hold back the good you desire to extend my hand in a letter, perhaps God will summon under my quill from the novelties that are above the sun, which renew every day every time, in the aspect of, “He renews with His good…”, the aspect of “Brand new every morning; great is Your Faith”, as understood from explanation of Rashi there that explains that the loving-kindness renews every morning. And we certainly have to give thanks over them every day, which is the primary delight of the World to Come that we have to draw upon ourselves every single day, for we were born for this – to give thanks and extol His great Name, Blessed is He, every day every time, etc. This is the aspect of all the blessings and thanksgivings etc. that our Teachers Z”l established to say every day, and especially what we say in the blessing of Modim, “We thank you… for Your miracles every day with us and for Your wonders and good every time, night, morning, and afternoon…”

And in accordance with how much a person engages in this to always give thanks and extol His Name, Blessed is He, so will he merit in the World to Come to engage in thanksgiving and extolling, which is the main delight of the World to Come. And all the more so during the days of Chanukah which were established solely over this, to thank and extol to Your great Name, which is the aspect of the delight of the World to Come; like our Master and Teacher and Rabbeinu, the mentioning of the Tzaddik and Holy shall be for blessing, revealed the awesomeness of Chanukah’s holiness to us, as is written in Chapter 2 of Volume 2. And especially since many miracles and wondrous salvations certainly happen every year – many that we know from and a lot of miracles that occur under concealment, because the owner of the miracle doesn’t recognize his miracle.
(Alim L’trufa 445)

9

**The days of Chanukah are days of thanksgiving and extolling, which is the main delight of the World to Come. Thereby, we merit that the Truth shall shine, that is, to pray in truth, to learn Torah in truth from a True Rav, and to make true shidduchim – which these all are the three Lines of Truth that shine to all the parts of speech and complete the speech. And we merit through this to draw the holiness and happiness of Shabbos to the six days of the week, through which the Simple Unity, Blessed is He, is revealed. All these rectifications are drawn by way of the kindling of the Chanukah light and the extolling and thanksgiving of Chanukah. Fortunate is he who merits to such a Chanukah – to draw all these awesome rectifications in it.
(Likutei Eitzos, Chanukah 3)**

10

**The Honor of God, Blessed is He, shines through the Mitzvah of the Chanukah light, and His honor ascends and grows in the world, and we arouse the estranged ones to return to God, and we merit to fear of Heaven and peace in the home and prayer; strife and bad speech becomes nullified, and General Peace is drawn in all the worlds.
(Likutei Eitzos, Chanukah 1)**

11

**Through the Mitzvah of kindling the Chanukah light, we draw the holy knowledge upon ourselves, which is the aspect of the good oil, the aspect of remembrance; that is, to always remember the World to Come in general and in detail.
(Likutei Eitzos, Chanukah 2)**

12

**Everyone in accordance to how much he merited to manifest the request “Please forgive” on Yom Kippur, likewise he merits to the holiness of Chanukah, and to draw the illumination of the holy knowledge to sons and disciples for generations eternally, and to thereby merit to the attainment of the holy Surrounders, which are the main delight of the World to Come, and are drawn through the kindling of the holy oil of the Chanukah light. And to merit thereby to holy livelihood that is drawn from the Highest Will, through which we can merit to the illumination of the transcendent Will during eating – to yearn and long to God with an immeasurable transcendent desire. And a person shall understand on his own that it’s impossible to merit to such a Chanukah except through the drawing close to a Rav and Leader who is a True Merciful One. Fortunate is he who merits to find him!
(Likutei Eitzos, Chanukah 4)**

13

**The following is the aspect of the Mitzvah of the Chanukah light which is to kindle close to the door of the home: because the kindling of the light is the aspect of the illumination of the Honor, the aspect of, “And the land shined from His Honor”. Therefore, its Mitzvah is to kindle near the door of the home – this is the door on high, the aspect of fear; that is, to return the Honor to its root which is fear. And when does the Honor ascend? When we return people in repentance and produce repentant individuals and converts, which is His primary Honor.**

This is why the time of kindling the Chanukah light – which is the illumination of the Honor – is from the emergence of stars until legs [i.e., traffic] in the marketplace cease. The emergence of stars is the aspect of, “The turners of the many to righteousness [will shine] like stars”; that is, they turn many to righteousness and generate repentant individuals and converts, through which the Honor shines and returns to its root which is fear, and through this we merit to peace, and strife is nullified. This is, “Until legs in the marketplace cease” (the marketplaces are the exterior places); ‘legs’ are the aspect of “A grumbler alienates God”; that is, purveyors of evil speech and strife who go, spy, and speak gossip, evil speech and generate contention and strife between man and his friend or between man and his wife, the aspect of, “On whose tongue there is no slander” [the word *‘regel’ *is used here for slander, *‘regel’ *= leg]. And this is why we need to light and kindle the Chanukah light near the door, that is, to shine the Honor and return it to the root of fear until we will merit to peace, and to nullify and finish off the “The grumbler alienates God”. And this is, “Until legs in the marketplace cease” – that the purveyors of evil speech and gossip, on whose tongue there is slander, are nullified, and peace will abound in the world.

And by way of peace, we merit to prayer, and thereby we merit to General Peace, peace in all the worlds.
(Likutei Moharan 14:12)

14

**During the days of Chanukah and Purim, there shines a wondrous illumination, which is the illumination of the great Tzaddik who can shine even in the extremely fallen and sickest ones.
(Ebay Hanachal, Omissions)**

15

**On Chanukah, everyone draws the holiness of the Chanukah Lights in his home which are the aspect of the illumination of the holy Desire’s power that is drawn by the True Tzaddik, the aspect of Moses, who kindles and illuminates all the Jewish souls with a Great Light even amidst all kinds of darkness and gloom and saves them from the torrent of abundant waters of heresies and false faiths which are the manifestation of waters of the Biblical flood that surge to destroy the world.
(Ebay Hanachal – Omissions)**

16

**The main Light of all Lights in the world is drawn from the great Tzaddik who is the aspect of Messiah, who engages every generation to elevate the Jewish souls from the Chambers of Exchanges and klippos [husks = evil forces], which their main overpowering is by way of depression. This Tzaddik draws happiness from the Source of Happiness even onto the weakest and most downtrodden souls, which is the aspect of kindling the Chanukah light below ten tefachim.
(Ebay Hanachal – Omissions)**

17

**The primary Mitzvah of the Chanukah light is to kindle and shine the Light of the Truth in the world so that all will merit to know where the True Tzaddik is, who is the Head, the Prime Truth from between the Tzaddikim. The main miracle of Chanukah is that the wicked kingdom which is the aspect of falsehood, the aspect of a slave, the defilement of the snake – was subdued, and the holy kingdom of the Jewish people overpowered and ascended, which is the aspect of the King’s Son, the aspect of Truth.**

One needs to have mind by the kindling of the Chanukah light, to merit thereby to draw the Illumination of the Truth, and to merit to always draw close to the Point of Truth!
(Ebay Hanachal, Eve of Chanukah 5720)

18

**This is the aspect of Chanukah: because the Greek kingdom rose against the Jewish people to make them forget Your Torah etc., for the Greek kingdom is the aspect of the sages of nature who deny in the entire Torah, for the primary mistaken wisdom of the sages of nature is called “Greek wisdom” in the words of our Sages Z”l, as our Sages Z”l have said, “Can a person teach his son Greek wisdom?” which is wisdom of the nature. Therefore, it was a time of extremely grave distress for the Jewish people when the Greek kingdom rose against them because it’s the aspect of the surging of the sages of nature who deny in the Will, God forbid. Therefore, when the House of Chashmonaim merited and defeated them, the miracle occurred by way of the oil, and they established for generations to kindle a light of oil on Chanukah – for oil is the aspect of Will. Therefore, on Chanukah when we have to subdue the wisdom of nature, Greek wisdom, we draw this oil which is the aspect of “sacred anointing oil”, the aspect of “Revelation of the Will”; and we thereby kindle the lights of Chanukah.**

Therefore, we increase in giving charity on Chanukah, because the main revelation of Will, which is the aspect of oil, to subdue the wisdom of nature, the aspect of the wicked Greek kingdom, is by way of charity, the aspect of “Send your bread…”.
(Likutei Halachos, Wine Vessels 1:8)

Prayers for Chanukah:

**19**

**Merit us to fulfill the Mitzvah of kindling the Chanukah light befittingly with all its details, subtleties, intentions, and the 613 Commandments dependent in it, and to fulfill all the commandments of Chanukah with great joy, to give thanks and bless You and to say the complete Hallel with great joy and rejoicing, with great arousal, holiness, and purity. For You have established eight days of Chanukah for us out of Your great compassion, to give thanks and extol Your great Name, which is the delight of the World to Come. Merit us with Your mercy to fulfill Your Commandments in truth until we merit to draw the delight of the World to Come, which is thanksgiving to Your great holy Name, upon ourselves in truth constantly, and especially during the holy days of Chanukah which are days of thanksgiving, until we merit to draw close to You in truth, know and recognize You, give thanks to You, and bless You for eternity in truth forever, for He is good, as is written, “Praise God, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is eternal”; and we will merit to draw the holiness of Shabbos to the six days of the week until we merit to always be in happiness in truth as is Your good desire.
(Likutei Tefilos, Vol. 2 – 2)**

20

**Please, God, have mercy on us with Your abundant mercy and reveal the Truth in the world, place peace between Your Nation of Israel and the world, emanate peace in all the worlds until the peace will be drawn in this physical world as well, and all the creatures will have mercy on each other, and there will be great peace between all the creatures in the world.**

And help us with Your great mercy so that we merit to fulfill the Mitzvah of kindling the Chanukah light in its time, with befitting perfection, with holiness and purity and befitting great and immense concentration. And we shall merit to all these rectifications we mentioned before you, through the Mitzvah of the Chanukah light; and the fulfillment of our Mitzvah shall be considered before You as if we fulfilled it with all its details, subtleties, intentions, and the 613 Mitzvahs that depend in it; and the light of our Mitzvah’s holiness shall shine before you in all the worlds, and we shall merit to rectify all the worlds through fulfilling this Mitzvah.
(Likutei Tefilos 14)

21

**Merit us with Your abundant mercy to the holiness of Chanukah, and help us every single year so that we merit to manifest our requests and desires for good on the holy Yom Kippur that You shall pardon and forgive our sins and the sins of Your Nation, the House of Israel, and remove our transgressions every single year. And we shall merit through the pardon and forgiveness of Yom Kippur to receive the holiness of the holy days of Chanukah which is the Inauguration of the House; and we shall merit to draw the holiness of the Temple upon us during the days of Chanukah. And have mercy on us and build us the House of our holiness and pride, speedily in our days.
(Likutei Tefilos, Vol 2 – 7)**

A Story for Chanukah:

**5569, the first day of Chanukah. After the kindling of the Chanukah light by night, a guest entered and came to the homeowner.
He asked the owner, “From where do you have a livelihood?”
And he responded, “I don’t have an established livelihood in my home, my sustenance is just from the world”.
He asked him, “What do you learn?”, and he answered.
They conversed together until they entered into a conversation of words emerging from the heart, and the homeowner began to exceedingly long and yearn, how can one attain and reach some elevated matter of holiness.
The guest told him, “I will learn with you”.
The homeowner marveled and started to think, “Perhaps he isn’t human at all”.
But he [looked] again and saw that he speaks with him in the manner of people. But the faith immediately strengthened by him to believe in him, and he immediately began to call him “Rebbe”, and said to him, “First of all, I request to learn from you how to behave with your honor; and it goes without saying that I would [not] actually blemish your honor, God forbid, but nonetheless, it’s difficult for a person to be completely careful befittingly. Therefore, I want you to teach me how to act with your honor.”
And he answered him, “Right now I don’t have time, I will come to you at a different time and teach you this. Now, I have to go from here.”
He told him, “I have to learn from you regarding this as well, how much I have to escort you”.
And he told him, “Until after the door”.
He began to think, “How can I exit with him? Because now I am with him amongst beings, and if I go out with him alone, who knows who he is?”
And he asked and said to him, “I have fear to exit with you”.
He responded, “If I can learn such with you, now also if I would want to do something to you, who will protest me?”
So he went out with him from the door. He [the guest] then immediately grabbed him and began to fly with him. He was cold, and he [the guest] took a garment and gave it to him and told him, “Take this garment and it will be good for you, and you will have food and drink and all the good, and you will return to your home (another version: and you will reside in your home). And he flew with him.**

In the middle of this, he took a look, and behold he is in his home; and he himself didn’t believe that he is in his home. But he took a look, and behold he is speaking with people and eating and drinking like the manner of the world. In the middle of this he once again took a look, and behold he is flying like in the beginning. He once again took a look, and behold he is in his home; he once again took a look, and behold he is flying. And this was happening for a long time.

Afterwards, he [the guest] landed him in a valley between two mountains and he found a book there. In it were combinations of letters, Aleph Zayin Ches is Daled, etc. And in the book were drawn vessels, and in the vessels were letters. In the vessels there also were the letters of the vessels, through which one can produce these vessels. And he had a great desire to learn this book. In the middle of this, he took a look, and behold he is in his home; he once again took a look, and behold he is there. He decided to go up to the mountain, perhaps he will discover some settlement there. When he came to the mountain, he saw a golden tree with golden branches standing there, and hanging on the branches were vessels such as these vessels drawn in the book, and inside the vessels were vessels through which these vessels are produced. He wanted to pick the vessels from there, but he was unable to since they were tangled there on the branches which were crooked.

In the middle of this, he took a look, and behold he is in his home. And it was a great wonder by him, what is this that he is sometimes here and sometimes there? He wanted to relate this to people, but how can he relate such a wonder which is something unbelievable to people? In the middle of this, he looked out of the window and saw the aforementioned guest, and began to greatly beg him to come to him.
And he said to him, “I don’t have time because I am coming to you”.
He said to him, “This itself is wondrous in my eyes, behold I am here, what is this that you are coming to me?”
He responded, “When you consented to go with me, to escort me from the door, I then took the *Neshama* from you and gave it a garment from the Lower Garden of Eden, and the *Nefesh *and *Ruach *remained with you. Therefore, when you attach your thought there, you are there, and you draw enlightenment from me to you; and when you return here, you are here.

And I don’t know which world he is from; he is definitely from a good world. And it still isn’t over or finished.
(Chayei Moharan 85)

The Abridged Laws of Chanukah
(Based on the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Chapter 139)

**1**

**During the era of the Second Temple, when the Greek kingdom reigned, they decreed decrees on Israel, nullified their laws, didn’t permit them to engage in Torah and Mitzvahs, extended their hands in their money and daughters, they entered the Sanctuary [of the Temple] and breached breaches, defiled the pure, and Israel was under extreme excruciation because of them, and they oppressed them severely until the God of our ancestors had mercy on them and saved them from their hands and rescued them. The sons of the Chashmonaim, the High Priests, grew mighty and killed them and saved Israel from their hands. They established a king from the priests and the Israeli reign returned for more than two hundred years until the Second Destruction. It was the 25th day of Kisleiv when Israel overpowered their enemies and obliterated them. They then entered the Sanctuary and didn’t find pure oil in the Temple except for one flask which was stamped with the seal of the High Priest. It only contained enough oil to kindle the Menorah for one day, but they lit the Menorah lights for eight days with it until they crushed olives and extracted pure oil. Because of this, the Sages of that generation ordained these eight days beginning from the 25th of Kisleiv to be days of happiness and extolling; and we kindle lights near the house doors every night of these eight nights to show and reveal the miracle. And these days are called Chanukah, meaning, they rested on the 25th [חנוכה = חנו כ"ה], because they rested from their enemies on the 25th day. Another reason is that on these days they inaugurated the Temple which the oppressors defiled [the word Chanukah means inauguration].**

Therefore, some say that it’s a Mitzvah to elevate the meals a little on Chanukah. In addition, the work of the Tabernacle was concluded in these days. In these days, one should relate to his household all about the miracles that occurred these days with our ancestors [see Flavius Josephus]. Nevertheless, it isn’t a Mitzvah meal except if songs and praises are sung during the meal.

We give more charity during the days of Chanukah because they are auspicious to rectify the blemishes of the soul through the charity given in them, and especially to support poor Torah scholars.

2

**It is permitted to work on Chanukah; however, the women follow the custom not to work as long as the Chanukah lights are burning in the house, and we shouldn’t be lenient on them. The reason the women are more stringent is because the decree was harsher on the Jewish daughters since they decreed that any virgin who gets married must first cohabit with the general. Also, the miracle was done through a woman: the daughter of Yochanan the High Priest was a very beautiful girl, and the oppressive king requested her to lie with him. She told him she would fulfill his request and fed him cheese dishes so that he would become thirsty and drink wine and become intoxicated and fall fast asleep. And so it was, and she chopped off his head and brought it to Jerusalem. When the general saw that they lost their king, they all fled. Therefore, some have the custom of eating dairy dishes on Chanukah as a remembrance of the miracle that was done through a dairy product.**

3

**Throughout the eight days of Chanukah, we say Al HaNissim in Shemoneh Esrei [in the blessing of Modim]. If one forgot and didn’t say it, if he remembered before he said God’s Name at the conclusion of the Modim blessing, he should go back and begin Al HaNissim. But if he didn’t remember until after he said God’s Name, he should finish the blessing and not go back.**

4

**All the eight days of Chanukah, we recite the complete Hallel.**

5

**All oils are kosher for the Chanukah lights; nevertheless, the optimal Mitzvah is to take olive oil which is similar to the miracle in the Temple that was with olive oil. And if it isn’t available, one should choose a different oil whose light is pure and clear, or wax candles whose light is also pure. But two lights shouldn’t be braided together because that is like a bonfire; rather, every light should be on its own.**

6

**The basic custom in our region is like the Mehadrin min HaMehadrin [Beautifiers of the Beautifiers], that all of the household members kindle one light on the first night, and two lights on the second night, and so on until they each kindle eight lights on the 8th night. But we have to be careful that everyone should place their Menorah in a specific place so that it should be recognizable how many lights are being kindled.**

7

**The Mitzvah is to place the Menorah higher than three tefachs [a tefach equals 8 centimeters] and below ten tefachs. But if he placed it higher than ten tefachs, he does fulfill the obligation. However, if he placed it higher than twenty amot [an amah is six tefachs], he does not fulfill the obligation.**

8

**The lights should be in one equal line without one being high and one low. There should be a space between each light so that the flames shouldn’t be close and be like a bonfire. With wax candles, there should also be a space so that the candles don’t heat up and drip wax and get ruined.**

9

**The time of their lighting is immediate with the emergence of stars and shouldn’t be delayed. It is forbidden to do anything or even to learn prior to their kindling. Except if he hasn’t prayed Maariv [evening prayer], he should pray first and then light. He should gather all the members of his household before he lights for publicization of the miracle. And there has to be enough oil for them to burn for at least a half-hour. Post factum, if one didn’t light immediately, he can light with a blessing as long as the members of his household are awake.**

10

**According to our custom, the order of their kindling is as follows: on the first night, we kindle the light opposite our right hand. On the second night, we add a light to its left; and likewise, every night we add a light to its left. The added light is kindled first, and we then turn and go to its right.**

11

**Women are obligated in Chanukah lights since they were also in that miracle.**

12

**On the eve of Shabbos, we first kindle the Chanukah light and kindle the Shabbos light afterward. We pray Minchah [afternoon prayer] prior. There has to be enough oil to burn until a half-hour after the emergence of stars. On Shabbos night, we make Havdalah [a ceremony distinguishing between Shabbos and the following week] and kindle the Chanukah light afterward.**

13

**One who isn’t in his home, if he knows that his wife lights in his home, he should light where he is without a blessing. If his wife will not be lighting in his home, he needs to light with a blessing. The same goes for young unmarried men who are boarding.**

The Chanukah Lights Kindling Ceremony:

**Behold, I attach myself with the kindling of these Chanukah lights to all the True Tzaddikim of our generation, and to all the True Tzaddikim who dwell in the dust, the holy ones who are buried in the earth; and especially to our Holy Rabbeinu, the Tzaddik who is the Foundation of the world, the Gushing Stream that is the Source of Wisdom, Rabbeinu Nachman the son of Faiga, Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman. Their merit shall shield us and all of Israel, Amen.**

A prayer from Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, the author of Bnei Yissochor Zitzuka”l:

**For the sake of the unification of the Holy One, Blessed is He, and His Divine Presence, with fear and love and love and fear, I hereby intend with the kindling of the Chanukah light to fulfill my Creator’s Mitzvah as our Sages commanded me to rectify their root in the Supreme Place. So therefore, may there be a Will before You, God, our Almighty and the God of our fathers, that [this] Mitzvah of kindling the Chanukah light shall be considered, accepted, and liked before You as if I intended all the intentions that the priests, the servants of God, intended when they exposed their souls to death for the sake of Your great mighty awesome Name’s Honor. And with Your great mercy, You aroused Your triumph upon them to defeat their enemies, and to officiate [in song] at the building of God’s house. Behold I am doing with their knowledge and intent, and with the knowledge of all the Tzaddikim and Chassidim that were in that generation to whom You emanated Your miracles, and they merited to be illumined in the light of life, and with the knowledge of all the Tzaddikim and Chassidim of our generation; my mouth is as their mouth and my actions are like their actions. And in the merit of this Mitzvah, merit us to vanquish our enemies and to officiate [in song] at the building of God’s house. Reveal the Honor of Your Kingdom upon us speedily, and the Torah shall not depart from our mouths or the mouths of our offspring or the mouths of our offspring’s offspring from now and forevermore, and we shall merit to sons that are disciples of Sages. Amen, so may it be God’s Will. Sanctify us with Your Commandments and give our portion in Your Torah, satiate us from Your good and gladden our souls with Your salvations, and purify our hearts to serve in truth. Reign over the whole world with Your Honor and be exalted over the whole earth with Your Glory and appear with the Splendor of Your majestic might on all the dwellers of the inhabited world of Your earth, and everything that has been made will know that You have made it, and it will be understood by everything that was formed that You have formed it. And everyone who has breath in his nostrils will say, “Adonoy, God of Yisrael is King, and His Kingship rules over all. Amen eternally forevermore.**

The Blessings:

**Prior to the kindling, we bless the blessing of “To kindle” and “Who has performed miracles”, and on the first night we add the blessing, “Who has enlivened us”.**

**Blessed** are You, God, our Almighty, King of the world who sanctified us with His Commandments and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

**Blessed** are You, God, our Almighty, King of the world who performed miracles for our fathers in those days at this time.

Only on the first night: **Blessed** are You, God, our Almighty, King of the world who enlivened and sustained and brought us to this time.

After kindling the first light on the left, we say the following while kindling the remaining lights:

**We** are kindling these lights over the miracles and over the wonders and over the salvations and over the wars that You did for our forefathers in those days at this time through Your holy priests. All eight days of Chanukah, these lights are holy and we don’t have permission to make use of them, but only to see them, so that we give thanks and extol Your great Name over Your miracles and wonders and salvations.

After the kindling, we sing Maoz Tzur (in the original Hebrew, the stanzas are in rhyme):

Fortress, Rock of my salvation, to You it is pleasant to praise.
Establish the House of my Prayer, and there we will slaughter a Thanksgiving offering.
When You prepare a massacre against the barking oppressor, I then will finish with the Song, a Psalm for the Inauguration of the Altar.

Evils satiated my soul, sorrow finished my strength.
They embittered my life with hardships, with the enslavement of the Heifer kingdom [Egypt].
And with His great Hand, He extracted the treasure [Israel].
Paroah’s army and all his seed descended like a rock in the depths.

To the Holy of His Holies, He brought me, and even there I did not rest.
And the oppressor came and exiled me because I had served alien gods.
And I poured poisoned wine, I almost passed on.
At the end of the Babylonian exile, through Zerubavel, at the end of seventy years, I was saved.

To cut the height of the cypress, desired Aggagi [Haman] the son of Hamdasa.
It became a trap and snare for him, and his arrogance was put to rest.
You raised the Head of Binyamin, and You blotted out the name of the enemy.
The majority of his sons and wealth, You hanged upon the gallows.

Greeks ganged up on me then in the days of the Chashmonaim.
And they broke down the walls of my towers and defiled all the oils.
From the remaining flasks, a miracle was done for the Roses.
Men of Understanding designated eight days for song and joyful Psalms.

Uncover Your holy Arm and bring the End of the Salvation.
Avenge the revenge of Your servant’s blood from the wicked nation.
For the hour has been lengthened for us, and there is no end to the days of bad.
Cast Admon [Esau] to the shadow of darkness, and establish a Shepherd of Seven for us.

An additional paragraph from the Rama”h from the book, ‘Eishel HaGdolim’:

For always You were my salvation, my honor, and the lifter of my head.
Hear now the voice of my screaming, my King and holy Almighty.
Annul my sins and rebellion, even in the fourth exile.
Strengthen Israel and subdue Ishmael, and redeem my soul from Edom [Esau].