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Sefas Emes on Chanukah and Pirsumei Nisa

The Sefas Emes explores the significance of revealing God's glory through the Chanukah miracle, connecting the miracle's purpose to the fulfillment of mitzvot, the proper gratitude for divine intervention, and the renewal of Israel's connection to the upper worlds.

פרסומי ניסא הוא דבר גדול

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What the sources say

Sefat Emet, Bereishit, For Chanuka.19 establishes the foundation: pirsumei nisa is a great matter because every miracle was performed precisely so that God's glory should be revealed and publicized in the world — whereas God's governance and renewal of creation ordinarily remain hidden within nature, a miracle is God's will that the glory of His kingship be openly manifested.

Building on this, Sefat Emet, Bereishit, For Chanuka.4 argues that the Chanukah miracle is especially beloved, since unlike miracles performed for Israel's physical salvation, this miracle enabled Israel to perform a mitzvah — demonstrating God's desire for their deeds — and for this reason the day was instituted for hallel and thanksgiving rather than feasting, because the miracle was for the honor of God's name.

The gratitude expressed through pirsumei nisa is itself deepened, according to Sefat Emet, Bereishit, For Chanuka.3, when one internalizes that one is unworthy of a miracle — for thanksgiving to God for a miracle is only meaningful when one recognizes that miracles are not owed, and through that recognition one attains a deeper apprehension of the miracle and greater capacity for praise.

Source 1 · Hasidic

Verified

Sefat Emet, Genesis, For Chanuka.4

The passage develops the theme that the Chanukah miracle is especially beloved because it enabled the fulfillment of a commandment, and the kindling of the Chanukah lights opens a channel of fear of Heaven within each Jewish person, allowing them to receive the light of Torah and sanctify God's name.

ובאמת הנס דחנוכה חביב מאוד והיא חיבה יתירה כי כל הנסים להצלת ישראל. אבל נס לעשות המצוה אף כי אונס רחמנא פטרי'. הוא הוראת חיבתן של ישראל שהקב"ה חפץ במעשיהם ועשה להם נס שיוכלו לקיים המצוה. וז"ש הלבוש שנתקן להלל ולהודות לא למשתה. כיון שהנס הי' לכבוד שמו ית' אף שהיה הצלה ג"כ.

Full text on Sefaria ↗

Source 2 · Hasidic

Verified

Sefat Emet, Genesis, For Chanuka.3

Thanksgiving for a miracle is achieved through understanding that one is not worthy of it, since before the Holy One there is no distinction between miracle and nature; only through recognizing one's unworthiness does thanksgiving become fitting, and thereby one subsequently grasps the depth of the miracle in order to praise Him.

וגם הודאה על נס. ודאי הוא עי"ז שמבינים שאין ראוים לנס. כי מה שייך הודאה להקב"ה על נס הלא אין הפרש לפניו בין נס לטבע רק על ידי שמבינים שאין זוכין לנס שייך הודאה ועי"ז משיגין אח"כ עומק הנס להלל לפניו כנ"ל:

Full text on Sefaria ↗

Source 3 · Hasidic

Verified

Sefat Emet, Genesis, For Chanuka.19

The passage teaches that the miracles of Chanukah represent the revelation of God's glory in the world, and that the Jewish people's dedication of the Temple through miracles enabled them to renew their connection to the upper worlds and restore God's presence after it had been concealed by wickedness.

פרסומי ניסא הוא דבר גדול. כי כל הנסים נעשו שיתגלה ושיתפרסם כבודו ית' בעולם כי אנו יודעין שהקב"ה מנהיג ומחדש בכל יום מעשה בראשית. אבל הוא בהסתר תוך הטבע. וכשהקב"ה עושה נס. רצונו ית' שיתגלה כבוד מלכותו בעולם.

Full text on Sefaria ↗

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