Love is shown when a person does at least a little bit more than was expected or demanded of him. The surest sign that someone is doing something only because he has to and not because he loves to is when he does not do anything extra.
This applies to the good deeds that we do. When you take on more than the minimal requirements, it manifests your loving attitude.
~ R’ Yeruchem Levovitz zt”l
If a person wouldn’t run after his parnassah, the parnassah would run after him because before someone is formed in the womb, Hashem decrees whether he will be poor or wealthy (according to Hashem’s wisdom of each individual’s needs). Everything is decreed (other than whether he will be a tzaddik or a rasha, as that is up to each person’s free choice). It is decreed which utensils he will have, his clothing, his money. Whatever was decreed will occur. He won’t get more or less. The parnassah that is destined for him will run after him…”
~ The Meor Einayim (Va’eschanan)
Therefore, make sure to set aside time to learn Torah and serve Hashem as it won’t detract from your parnassah.
We, the Jewish people, are less than a quarter of a percent of the world’s population.
If I told you that we were ten percent, you’d say that makes sense, but we’re not even one percent. One percent is almost five times more than our number.
What does that mean to you?
Rare is special.
Rare is precious.
Rare is unique.
Do we think about this, what it means for each one of us? Do we embrace that uniqueness or do we try to hide it? Look at the numbers, look where we stand – then consider what that really tells us about who we are.
~ Rav Gav Friedman
The Ruzhiner said, “What tzaddikim accomplish on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, simple people can accomplish on Zos Chanukah.” We can daven for yeshuos and refuos and they will come, be’ezras Hashem. As the Shaul u’Meishiv (Divrei Shaul) zt’l teaches, although we generally don’t daven for miracles, on Chanukah we may, because on Chanukah miracles are the norm and the standard way Hashem leads the world.
~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita
The Skulener Rebbe (Rebbe Eliezer Zusia) zt’l would say that on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Succos, we build a beautiful (spiritual) edifice, which is the source for bounty and blessings for the new year. Yet, something is missing. There is no light!
Everyone understands that if you have a building without electricity, the building isn’t finished yet. Something essential is missing.
Similarly, the new year without light isn’t complete. Chanukah adds the light. Now the new year is complete. The light is the joy of Yiddishkeit and happiness with the mitzvos. That is the light of Chanukah, which we add into the new year.
Believe with emunah sheleimah that when you stand to light Chanukah lecht, all the sparks of your soul and of your fathers’ and grandfather’s neshamos, all the way up to Adam HaRishon are standing there with you. This occurs to every Yid who lights Chanukah lecht, as these neshamos hope that perhaps with your inspiration by Chanukah lecht, they will merit a rectification and they can reach their origin and source.
~ The Meir Einei Chachamim (12:2)
Hallel on Chanukah shouldn’t be said like Hallel on Rosh Chodesh, because Hallel on Rosh Chodesh is a minhag, while the Hallel on Chanukah is a mitzvah. ~ The Chebiner Rav zt’l
Every candle that is lit for a mitzvah is extremely holy. If we had ruach hakadosh, we would perceive the future when we light those candles. They tell us prophecy and resemble the times that the navi spoke and told us what he heard from Hashem’s mouth. ~ The Kav HaYashar (96)
In my opinion, the primary mitzvah is that the one who lit the lecht should be near the lecht for half an hour, to look at them, and be happy with them. ~ The Chavas Ya’ir
The Beis Yosef asks: Why do we celebrate the first day of Chanukah? It seems that no miracle occurred on that day. The Chashmonaim found a jug of oil that had just enough to last one day, so the menorah lighting of the first day wasn’t really a miracle.
The Alter of Kelm zt’l answers that on the first night of Chanukah, we are celebrating the miracle that oil burns – for that too is a nes! It is natural, but a miracle, nonetheless. The Alter explains that nature is the greatest miracle. Although we generally celebrate miracles where there is a change in nature, like the menorah burning for 8 days, or the weak small Chashmonaim beating the large powerful Greek army, here, on the first night of Chanukah, we celebrate and recognize the miracles of nature as well, that oil creates light.
~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita
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