The Menorah Light Paradox

There is a paradox relating to the Chanukah flames.  On the one hand, the purpose of the lamps is to spread light.  We are publicizing the fact that there was a great miracle and the oil burned for eight nights.  (Did you hear about the modern Chanukah miracle?  There were enough doughnuts for eight nights and they only lasted one!)  

 

On a mystical level, the intense holiness which is evoked because of the Jews’ self-sacrifice to adhere to Torah is able to transform even the darkest place to light.  The Chanukah lights, lit after sunset, represent that transformation.  However you look at it, the light is there for us to see, and to learn from.

 

On the other hand, we are not permitted to use or benefit from the light.  One reason that we have an additional candle, the Shamash, is in case someone reads by the light of the Chanukah candles, they will be using the light of the Shamash and not that of the other candles.  

 

Remember that in days of old there were no electric lights so it was dark in the room where the Chanukah lights were burning.  The Shamash, usually placed higher than the others, provided enough illumination so that one could have a lit home but no actual benefit came from the Chanukah lights.

 

So which is it?  Are the lights there for our benefit or not?  It is interesting that even though today we have electric lights and it is rare to use candlelight at all, we still keep the Shamash burning. 

 

One answer is based on the verse “for a Mitzvah is a candle and Torah is light (Mishlei 6:23).”  The candle (or lamp) is a metaphor for Mitzvot. The Torah tells us that there are many rewards for observing Mitzvot.  For some, like honoring parents, a specific reward is mentioned.  Then there is the general reward for all Mitzvot, like rain in its time and the countless other blessings that Mitzvot bring.  

 

There is of course a deeper level of reward, the satisfaction of living a good life with a purpose and a sense of mission.  This life is happier and gives a person resilience and the ability to handle challenges.

 

The Chanukah lights tell us:  “Yes we give light and yes, there is great benefit from our presence, but that’s not why we’re here. When we observe the Torah because of the benefit it brings us–even spiritual benefit–it is still self-centered.  Chanukah teaches us to reach for something more.

 

The Maccabees sacrificed everything to preserve the Torah and to maintain the purity of Judaism.  There was no natural way for their movement to win, and therefore they could not have expected any benefit from their rebellion.  Yet, rebel they did, because their Jewish souls could not think of anything but following Hashem and preserving the sanctity of Torah.

 

The Menorah reminds us to do Hashem’s will without considering any personal benefits, material or spiritual.  Yes, there is tremendous reward in a Torah lifestyle, but that is not the focus of our observance.  Our performance of a Mitzvah brings Hashem’s light to the world and transforms darkness to light, making the world a home for Hashem.

 

It is this attitude that has preserved us through all the exiles, and it is this attitude that will bring us to Moshiach.