Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz:
Every year, as we light our menorah, my children express their disappointment that our little flames seem so insignificant next to all the elaborate decorations and lights of our non-Jewish neighbors. How can I help them appreciate the greatness of our small flames amidst all the glamor?
Ask The Rabbi Book2 pg. 288
Rabbi Chaim Mintz responds
This is a perfect opportunity to teach your children a vital lesson about Torah and about life in general: the importance of internal quality.
What Matters Most
Many things may seem glorious on the outside, but what’s inside is what really counts, and we must never lose focus of this. Indeed, our Rabbis tell us-
.אַל תִּסְתַּכֵּל בַּקַּנְקַן, אֶלָּא בְמַה שֶּׁיֶּשׁ בּוֹ
Do not look at the flask, but what is in it.
Pirkei Avot 4:20
As the saying goes, “don’t judge a book by its cover.”
There is much more to the flames shining in our windows than meets the eye. The light of the menorah commemorates the miracle of the small jug of oil, which contained enough oil for only one night, yet miraculously lasted for eight nights. This miracle was the culmination of the Jewish nation’s victory over the Greeks!
For many years, the Greeks tried mightily to get the Jews to embrace their Hellenistic culture, torturing them and enacting decrees against Torah study and mitzvah observance. With the fire of the Torah burning in their hearts, the Jews defied their decrees, even endangering their lives to study Torah and keep all the mitzvot. Their perseverance and self-sacrifice made them worthy of a great miracle, and Hashem (God) empowered the small and weak group of Jewish warriors to triumph over the mighty Greek army.
Eternity
The light of the menorah represents the eternal light of the Torah, and the miracle of the oil symbolizes the triumph of Torah over foreign Greek culture. This everlasting light of the Torah is what lights up the darkness of our long exile and has warmed our hearts throughout the ages, helping us survive the horrors of the inquisitions and holocausts. As the Chovot HaLevavot (duties of the heart) writes, just as a little bit of light has the ability to dispel the vast darkness, a small amount of truth can chase away much falsehood.
So far from being insignificant, the tiny flames of the Chanukah candles shine brighter than all the flashy lights and ornaments, symbolizing the victory of Torah true life over anti-Torah influences, the very essence of a Jew and the eternity of our religion. In a society caught up in the glamor and glitz of external beauty, this is an important lesson to internalize.
Bring The Light Into Life
One example of this is when seeking a potential spouse. While a person should certainly choose a marriage partner who appeals to them, the primary focus should not be on outward appearance. Torah outlook, personality, and good character traits are so much more important in any relationship, and certainly when establishing a Torah-true home and raising children.
So look at your menorah burning bright and internalize the lesson of Chanukah. What makes someone a Jew is not bagels and lox, and not even Israel. While it’s a holy land and we’re always looking to live there, it’s not what makes us Jews. What makes a person a Jew is the Torah. Only the study of Torah and observing its laws has sustained us throughout the ages and their many challenges, and Torah is what will bring the ultimate redemption.
In Short:
The small flame of the menorah shines brighter than all the bright lights. It represents the light of the Torah, which lights up the darkness of our exile and warms our hearts, keeping us connected to Hashem for eternity.
Written by Rabbi Aaron Shapiro
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