Parshat Miketz
28 Kislev 5768
December 8, 2007
Daf Yomi: Kesovos 98
Guest
Rabbi:
Rabbi Mendel Kaufman
Young Israel of Briarwood, NY
There is a
well known question about Chanukah. Why is Chanukah celebrated
for eight days? We all know the story of Chanukah. Oil
sufficient for one day burned for eight days. This means that
the oil burned miraculously only seven days, so we should
celebrate seven days, not eight?
There are many answers given to this question. But I would like
to suggest a possible answer based on the explanation the
commentaries give to a different mitzvah that is also related to
the number eight - the mitzvah of mila (circumcision), which is
performed when the child is eight days old.
The commentaries explain that we wait eight days to perform the
bris because the first seven days signify G-d’s creation of the
world. As we know from the Torah, six days G-d created the world
and on the seventh day He rested. The eighth day signifies the
assumption by humanity of its responsibility to continue the
process of creation by tending and developing the world that G-d
created in seven days.
As our sages said of humanity, Shutuf L’hakodosh Boruch Hu
B’snaasei Breishis (G-d’s partner in creation). This idea is
borne out in a conversation between Rabbi Akiva and Tornos
Rufus, a Roman official (Tonchuma, Tazria section 5).
Tornos Rufus asked Rabbi Akiva, “Whose deeds are more beautiful,
G-d’s or man’s?” Rabbi Akiva answered, “Man’s deeds are more
beautiful.” Tornus Rufus replied, “Look at the heavens and the
earth, can man duplicate them?” Rabbi Akiva answered “Don’t ask
me about matters that are beyond man’s capabilities. Ask me
about what is within human ability.” Tornus Rufus asked “Why are
you circumcised?” Rabbi Akiva answered, “I knew this is what you
had originally wished to ask me and this is why I earlier told
you that man’s deeds are more beautiful than G-d’s.” Rabbi Akiva
then showed him sheaves of wheat and loaves of bread and said,
“These (the sheaves) are made by G-d and these (the loaves) are
man-made. Aren’t the loaves more beautiful than the sheaves?”
This idea of man completing the creation of G-d can also be
gleaned from an insight of
the Baal Haturim on Tazria (Vayika 12:3). The Torah says of a
new born boy:
U’vayom Hashmini Yisroel B’sar Orloso (on the eighth day you
should circumcise his
foreskin). The Baal Haturim notes that this verse has the same
number of words (5) and
letters (22) as the verse in Breishis (2:1): Vayachulu
Hashomayim V’haaretz V’chal Tzevaom (The Heavens and the Earth
and all their hosts were completed).
The Baal Haturim himself explains the connection between the two
verses as an indication that circumcision supersedes the Shabbos.
But it would be possible to explain the connection between these
verses as expounded by Rabbi Akiva. The verse in Breishis,
Vayochulu, describes the completion of creation by G-d. This
verse is complimented by the verse in Tazria (about
circumcision) which says, in addition to G-d’s creation there is
also the role of man to advance creation, in this case with a
circumcision. In other cases, by man taking the raw materials
provided by G-d and turning them into finished products as Rabbi
Akiva demonstrated to Tornus Ruffus with the wheat and the
loaves.
This could then serve as an explanation for the eighth day of
Chanukah. The first seven days signify the miracles G-d made for
the Jewish people, victory over the Greeks and the oil that
burned eight days. The eighth day signifies what we have to do
in order to bring Jewish redemption closer. There are mitzvot
that we have to do. There are sacrifices we have to make for the
Jewish people and the Land of Israel. The eighth day tells us
that it is the extent of the dedication we will show that will
determine the pace of redemption.
Our role in advancing the miracle of Chanukah could be the
answer to another question on the observance of Chanukah.
The Talmud (Shabbos 21b) tells us, the basic mitzvah of Chanukah
is one light each night for the whole family. Mehadrin, those
who are scrupulous in doing the mitzvah, light one light for
each member of the family, the same number each night. Mehadrin
min hamehadrin, those who are extraordinarily scrupulous in
doing the mitzvah light one the first night, two the second,
each night adding a light.
What is puzzling is that the mitzvah of Chanukah is only a
Rabbinic mitzvah. With a Rabbinic mitzvah, as opposed to a
Biblical mitzvah, we tend to be more lenient. Why then has it
become standard practice to light the Chanukah lights in the
manner of mehadrin min hamehadrin (the most scrupulous)? We are
not usually so scrupulous even in fulfilling Biblical mitzvahs!
The answer is that we have an important role to play in bringing
about redemption. When it comes to redemption the extraordinary
has to become standard. As was said during World War II by a
famous Admiral, “The difficult we do right away, the impossible
takes a little longer.”
This is the lesson of the eighth day of Chanukah. G-d sustains
us with miracles but to bring the final redemption we must exert
ourselves for Torah and Israel to the utmost and beyond.
Chag Sameach.
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