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The Sefat Emet on Publicizing the Chanukah Miracle
The Sefat Emet develops the theme of pirsumei nisa (publicizing the miracle) across multiple teachings on Chanukah, exploring how the act of lighting candles and reciting praise serves not merely as commemoration but as a spiritual mechanism through which divine light is drawn into the world and perpetuated across generations.
פרסומי ניסא הוא דבר גדול
Sefas Emet on Publicizing the Chanukah Miracle
These passages from Sefas Emet develop the theme of pirsumei nisa (publicizing the miracle) in the context of Chanukah, exploring how the lighting of the candles serves to reveal divine sovereignty, strengthen faith, and commemorate Jewish redemption and return to serving God.
נר חנוכה מצוה להניחה על פתח ביתו מבחוץ
The Sefas Emes on Vayeshev and Chanukah's Hidden Light
The Sefas Emes draws a profound connection between the portion of Vayeshev and the festival of Chanukah, teaching that both speak to the preservation of an inner, inextinguishable point of holiness in darkness and spiritual exile. Joseph's maintenance of his faith and purity in Egypt parallels the Maccabees' discovery of the pure oil, illustrating how divine light endures even when hidden from perception.
נקודה פנימית שלא תוכל להכבות
Sefat Emet on Divine Light and Revelation
These passages from the Sefat Emet explore the concept of divine light—both hidden and revealed—as it manifests through Jewish spiritual practice, Torah study, and the mitzvot. The sources discuss how inner illumination sustains the soul even amid concealment and materiality, and how specific observances like Hanukkah and proper conduct facilitate the disclosure of this primordial light in the physical world.
כי הנס למעלה מהטבע
Sfas Emes on Joseph, Chanukah, and Hidden Light
The Sfas Emes draws a profound parallel between Joseph's descent into Egypt and the spiritual darkness of exile, connecting both to Chanukah's triumph of light over concealment. Through Hasidic interpretation, Joseph emerges as a tzaddik whose hidden divine light—like the Chanukah flames—illuminates the deepest darkness and cannot be extinguished.
אוֹר זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק וּלְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵב שִׂמְחָה
Hanukkah Candle Lighting: Ascending Night by Night
These sources address the proper number of candles to light each night of Hanukkah, presenting the classical dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel and the halachic ruling that follows the practice of ascending in holiness rather than descending—beginning with one candle on the first night and adding one each subsequent night.
בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן מַדְלִיק שְׁמֹנָה