Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph

Why do we light the Hanukkah candles?

According to the prayer in our siddur, Hanerot Hallalu, we light the candles to give thanks for the miracles God performed for us “in those days at this time of year”. Those miracles, which are not specified in this prayer, are the twin miracles of the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucids (Syrian Greeks) and the miracle of single container of oil which should have lasted one day but lasted for eight.

The Talmud, in its account, makes no mention of the miraculous military victory that occurred. Rather, it focuses solely on the miracle of the oil. We light the menorah on Hanukkah to commemorate that miracle.

The Rambam (12th century CE) places his emphasis on the “publicizing of the miracle”. We place the menorah in our window or outside on our doorstep so that passers-by can see. This serves to “increase our praise and gratitude for the miracles that He did for us.”

Gratitude, remembrance and publicizing the miracle — three reasons for lighting the menorah. Rabbi Yitzchak Levi of Berdichev (d. 1809) adds a fourth reason for lighting the Menorah on Hanukkah. He notes that the Seleucids did not seek to destroy the Jewish people in their war against the ancient Jewish state. Rather, they sought to suppress the studying of the Torah and the performance of mitzvoth. Many during that time chose martyrdom rather than to transgress the Laws of the Torah. (see, for example, the story of Hannah and her seven sons). When the Maccabees re-dedicated the Temple following their victory, they could have inaugurated the Temple service by lighting the Menorah for one day only. True, they would have to wait until more holy oil could be pressed, but God would have considered it as if they performed the mitzvah of lighting the menorah for the entire eight days. This is why God joined them, as it were, in keeping the menorah lit until they could procure more oil. God understood how much the Jewish people wanted to perform mitzvoth, and thus God reciprocated the great love of the Jewish people by performing a miracle and keeping the flames alive.

Thus, the Menorah represents the love of God. If we show our love of God by living our lives in accordance with God’s will, God will surely return that love by helping us to make our efforts a success.