1 Response to Ten Tefachim

1. Jeremy says:

   December 21, 2011 at 11:24 am

   If you are curious, read this story to get a better idea of the above quote:

   All of the Rebbe’s disciples went to great lengths to be present when the Rebbe, Rabbi David of Tolna, kindled his Chanukah lights. Everyone knew what a powerful event it was, with the Rebbe lighting the Menorah with intense concentration. Additionally, his Menorah itself was a sight to behold, made of pure gold and engraved with exquisitely intricate designs. Anyone who merited to be present during the nights of Chanukah in the Rebbe’s house would leave inspired.

   It happened one year on the very first night of Chanukah that just as the Rebbe was about to light the Menorah, surrounded on all sides by his eager Chassidim, the Rebbe turned unexpectedly to a certain disciple and said, “I know that your wife is short. When you need to speak to her what do you do? Do you bend towards her or does she raise herself up to you?”

   With that, the Rebbe immediately turned to light the Menorah, reciting the blessings and lighting the first candle.

   The disciple to whom the Rebbe had turned, as well as the other disciples, was bewildered by the Rebbe’s question. No-one could make head or tail of the Rebbe’s mysterious words.

   Among the disciples was Rabbi Mordechai Dov of Hornsteipel, the grandson of the one of the Rebbe’s brothers. Rabbi Mordechai Dov was known as being a righteous man. He had come to visit his relatives and had been present when the baffling saga with the Rebbe had taken place. Seeing how puzzled the disciples were he stood up and addressed the crowd.

   Rabbi Mordechai Dov said that he will explain what his great-uncle had said. He said that according to Kabbala, the Divine Presence never descends lower than ten tefachim (handbreadths from the ground). The only exception to this rule is the Chanukah light. According to Jewish law, the Menorah should ideally be lit at a height or less than ten tefachim above the ground. In this case, the Divine Presence descends to lower than ten tefachim.

   The Ari of Safed explained that this secret of the descent of the Divine Presence is hinted at in the Talmudic statement, “If your wife is short, bend over and whisper to her.” Rabbi Mordechai Dov then explained that this was what his great-uncle was hinting at when he spoke to the tall disciple before lighting the Menorah.

   The next night, when the time of lighting the Menorah came, the Rebbe turned to a different disciple and once again said something baffling that no-one could understand. On turning back to the Menorah he addressed his great-nephew saying, “This time you will not be able to decipher it for them.” And so it was.

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