More Chanuka points...
In B'reishit 32, the Torah tells us of the struggle between Yaakov and "a man" (guardian angel of Eisav? Prototype of those who attempt to oppress us). This battle occurred when Yaakov sought (and found) a flask of oil (so says Rashi). Following the battle, the Torah says: "Vayizrach Lo HaShemesh" (and the sun shone on him - it was morning, not to mention deeper meanings). On a "remez" (hint) level, read it as: "And the Shammash (play on words between Sun and the name for the candle that we use to light the Chanuka candles) lit up "LO", spelled Lamed=30 + Vav=6, representing the 36 candles we light during Chanuka. Battle, oil, lighting 36 with a Shammash - echoes of the future! 

There is a Tradition that it was on the 25th of Kislev that Kayin killed Hevel. This is a terrifying association in light of the fact that there is a strong element of brother-brother hatred in the weekly portions that surround Chanuka and a strong undercurrent of strong tenstion between Jew and fellow Jew at the time of the Chanuka story. It is as if the Kayin-Hevel story was meant to be a sobering reminder and warning concerning the relationships among Jews. Our problem is that we often don't heed warnings.

One should learn Torah (preferably with his family) after candle lighting, to fulfill KI NER MITZVA V'TORA OR. Also, we should learn Torah specifically after candles because the candles "anounce" that we are no longer under Greek opression and their ban on Torah learning (Chidushei HaRim + PC)

Take the words represnted by the letters on a dreidel. Alphabetize the letters that make up the words. Take the first and last letter on the list. What is significant about their numeric value?

This Shabbat, we add Al HaNisim, R'tzei, and Yaaleh V'Yavo to the Birkat HaMazon. Omitting R'tzei from the benching of the two main Shabbat meals requires repeating Birkat HaMazon. If you forget Al HaNisim and/or Yaaleh V'Yavo, do not repeat. Omitting R'tzei for Seuda Sh'lishit also does not invalidate the benching. Of course, it is best not to forget these "timely" additions

ZOT CHANUKA
The "simple" explanation for this special name for the last day of Chanuka is the Torah reading from the end of Parshat Naso that emphatically announces ZOT CHANUKAT HA-MIZBEI'ACH (when the Torah is summing up the gifts of all the Tribal Leaders. 

There is another, deeper meaning to the name. If you want to really know what Chanuka is all about, the answer is THIS, THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHANUKA - the fact that there are 8 days of Chanuka - ZOT CHANUKA, this is what Chanuka means. It means EIGHT. EIGHT is our answer to the Greek challenge. They said nature is perfect. They said it is a mutilation of the body to be circumcised. And they forbid us to fulfill that great mitzva of ours, under pain of death. EIGHT represents the step beyond TEVA, beyond nature. MILA on the 8th day represents our challenge to go beyond how we were created and take charge of the completion of our physical and spiritual form. The Mikdash began to function on its higher spiritual level on the EIGHTH day. The Greeks tried to take that away from us too. Torah was given to us on the day following seven sevens. It is an EIGHTH too. And the Greeks tried to take that from us also. With G-d's help, we prevailed over the Greeks and the triumph is celebrated with an 8 day holiday. This is Chanuka. ZOT CHANUKA.

Important Reminder: If you are considering changing any aspect of your Chanuka candle lighting routine, (candle to oil or vice versa, sunset to stars-out or vice-versa, indoors to outdoors or vice versa, window to door or vice versa, each family members to one for the family or vice versa etc.) it is advisable to consult a Rav. This is the case with most other minhagim that we follow.

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