The Brightest Candle

Translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody
 
 
A person might be alive, but he could very likely lack the spirit of life. Any deficiency he feels in life stems from this lack of “spirit of life”. There’s only one place to obtain a true spirit of life – from the tzaddik, the righteous and pious spiritual leader of the generation. Who is this tzaddik? First of all, he has completely overcome all bodily appetites and urges. Evil has no control of him for he has completely overcome evil as well. The true tzaddik is totally separated from evil.
 
Anyone can become a true tzaddik by way of prayer and Torah.
 
Who is an evil person? Rabbi Nachman of Breslev explains that an evil person is anyone who talks about a true tzaddik with arrogance and disparagement. In contrast to the person who receives his spirit of life from the tzaddik of the generation, the evil person receives his vitality from an unwholesome rabbi, one whose powers come from the side of impurity, the klipah.
 
One must be careful not to speak anything derogatory about any other individual, especially a tzaddik.
 
The average person lacks the spiritual power to overcome an evil individual. Rebbe Nachman says that only a true tzaddik – he who has totally distanced himself from bodily urges and transgressions – is capable of overcoming evil people. But, Rebbe Natan qualifies this statement in an encouraging manner and says that anyone who is completely connected to the true tzaddik also has the power to overcome evil people. This is a law that we learn in the Mishna, tractate Kelim: anything connected to purity becomes pure. As such, he who is truly connected to the tzaddik derives the strength of the tzaddik and can now stand fast against evil.
 
Taking a stand against evil is an aspect of Chanuka, which is recurrent throughout the generations. Evil is darkness; the tzaddik who fights evil is the light that illuminates the darkness. The candle of Chanuka is a symbol of this tzaddik’s light, whether it’s Moses or the Maccabees or the true tzaddik of this generation.
 
Our sages designated Chanuka as a time for praise and gratitude to Hashem. The Maccabees fought against the entire world – enemies from without and from within. When everything seemed lost, they found a tiny tin of oil sealed with the seal of the High Priest – the only thing in the Holy Temple that wasn’t defiled by the Greeks and their Hellenist sympathizers. This is symbolic of the light of the true tzaddik that’s never extinguished. For this, we must praise Hashem and thank Him endlessly.
 
The true tzaddik never bows to the winds of the time, neither Hellenism, compromise, or assimilation. Back in the time of the Maccabees, the Hellenists didn’t seem so bad. They were still “religious” with kippas on their heads. There problem was that they didn’t rejoice in their Judaism.
 
Stop and think: the Hellenist Jews had everything, even the Holy Temple that we all dream of? Why did they give it up so easily? Why were they willing to become Greeks? For sure, they didn’t say shelo asani goy in the morning with joy. They weren’t happy with their mitzvot.
 
Our joy on Chanuka and our joy while performing every single mitzva is the answer to Hellenism and assimilation. Parents who serve Hashem with joy aren’t likely to see their children stray from the upright path. But parents who rejoice in bodily pleasures and non-Jewish entertainment shouldn’t be surprised that their children become modern-day Hellenists. Let’s go further: any home that’s devoid of the light of Torah burning brightly can’t possibly have peace, whether it’s marital peace or peace between parents and children.
 
Your children are looking at you right now: How is Daddy lighting Chanuka candles? Is he rejoicing or is it a pain for him? What do Daddy and Mommy find thrilling? You can’t lie to your children. They’re highly sensitive. They’ll pursue whatever you truly value, whether it’s a football game on TV or lighting the Chanuka candles. The deeds of parents are steppingstones for children.
 
The more a person rejoices in his Judaism, the less he pays attention to the material world.
 
The light of Chanuka is the light of joy in our mitzvot and in our service of Hashem. The joy of Judaism is the only power that can overcome assimilation and Hellenism. Let’s really rejoice this Chanuka; our children will follow suit. May this be the best Chanuka of your life, amen!