by Rabbi Yair Hoffman HISTORICAL CONTEXT Chanukah occurred during the time of the Second Beis HaMikdash approximately in the year 3596/165 BCE.  That is 2188 years ago as of 2023.  The Seleucid Greeks (or Syrian Greeks) ruled and enacted decrees against Klal Yisrael, outlawing the Jewish religion. The Greeks forbade Torah study and the observance of mitzvos. Ironically, they knew what many Jews do not know: what makes Klal Yisrael unique is Torah and mitzvos. These things are now being realized by many in light of the terrible tragedy that has recently occurred – both in Eretz Yisroel and in Chutz LaAretz.  Without these, our spiritual existence would gradually disappear and we would no longer be the Am Hashem. The Greeks took our money and violated our bnos Yisrael. They entered the Mikdash and desecrated it. They polluted that which was pure and caused Klal Yisrael much anguish. The Greeks placed such stress on Klal Yisrael that Hashem finally had compassion upon us and rescued us. The Chashmona’im, the family of the Kohain Gadol and those who joined them, were victorious in battle against the Greeks and saved Klal Yisrael from their hands. The Chashmona’im installed a king from among the Kohanim, thereby restoring the monarchy to Klal Yisrael for more than 200 years, until the destruction of the Second Beis HaMikdash (3829/70 C.E.) by the Romans. The underlying nature of the miracle of Chanukah in and of itself involves a renewal.  The Nesivos Sholom explains (Ma’amarei Chanukah p. 35) that the Gemorah discusses the underlying principle of how we light the Chanukah lamps itself, according to Beis Hillel.  On the first night we light one. On the second night we light two.  On the third – three.  It is called “Mosif v’holech – adding more and more as we go along. This special power of Chanukah began with the Beis HaMikdash – where more and more holiness was added.  It spread to the people. Rav Dessler writes that every Yom Tov is actually the very same day that comes back to us year after year.   Each Chanukah is the very same Chanukah that the Maccabbees experienced.  This light of Chanukah that increases as each day progresses is with us constantly. The Nesivos Shalom further asks why the verse tells us “Mechadesh kol yom b’tuvo.”  Why must Hashem re-create every day? He answers that it was to give man hope as well.  So that man can renew himself and say, “Today is a new day and I am newly created.”  By the same token the nation of Israel is compared to the moon.  Just as the moon renews itself, so too can we renoew ourselves and reach our fullest.  Perhaps it was because of this notion as well that Chanukah was made to also include a Rosh Chodesh – to remind us of our power of renewal. PRE CHANUKAH PREPARATIONS Generally speaking regarding the other Yomim Tovim throughout the year, we should study them and give lectures in them for 30 days before the holiday (See Megillah 29b).  This is not the case, however, regarding Purim and Chanukah (See Tosfos Megilah 4a “B’Mai”). The Raavad’s son known as the Ri, however, writes that one should prepare the Menorah as well as the oil two days before the holiday (cited in […]  | Read More The Yeshiva World