{"id":58377,"date":"2025-12-12T16:22:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T16:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/?p=58377"},"modified":"2025-12-12T16:26:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T16:26:28","slug":"chanukah-as-capping-creation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/chanukah-as-capping-creation\/","title":{"rendered":"Chanukah as Capping Creation\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
On the 25th of Kislev we experience an outward light, while on the 25th of Elul, the light of Creation was concealed. What’s the interplay between Creation and Chanukah? Creation is a seven-day closed event while Chanukah embodies the number eight, an above nature occurrence. Creation ended – Vayechulu\u00a0<\/i>– but Chanukah is “Chanu<\/i>” a rest that has no end. What core principles surface when comparing these two miraculous events?<\/div>\n

<\/br>A Finite Unwitnessed Event\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Creation was unlike any miracle in history, for no man witnessed the actual creation of the world. G-d’s hand in the universe was concealed.<\/p>\n

This gives context as to why we say\u00a0zecher le\u2019yetziat Mitzrayim<\/i>\u00a0in\u00a0Shabbos Kiddush<\/i>, as this open miracle testifies to the veracity of the miracle of Creation.<\/p>\n

But why not say\u00a0zecher le\u2019yemei Chanukah<\/i>\u00a0in\u00a0Kiddush<\/i>? This was a holiday of open miracles, in terms of finding the jar of oil and winning the war, or Purim for that matter.<\/p>\n

In the Course of Regular Events<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chanukah was certainly an open miracle, but it occurred in a natural way. Finding a jug of oil in such chaos was unfathomable, but it happened. That it only had enough of an amount for one night and stayed lit for eight was beyond the boundaries of reality, but the physical occurrence took place. Winning such an uneven war was highly unlikely but it occurred.<\/p>\n

However, can someone say that they saw G-d miraculously pour the oil into the Menorah or fire blows at the enemy? No.<\/p>\n

These Chanukah miracles still needed inner strength of belief to attribute them to G-d. There was a choice to attribute these events to natural causes, unlike by Mitzrayim, where attribution of the miracles to nature was untenable.<\/p>\n

Active Acknowledgment by Man<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Yechezkel’s vision of the\u00a0Ma\u2019aseh Merkava<\/i>,\u00a0the understanding of this world is put in perspective. It is man that is seen under G-d’s throne.<\/p>\n

Man is the purpose of Creation, and his deeds bring\u00a0tikkun<\/i>\u00a0to the world. Before Mashiach comes, he must rise to the occasion and engage in\u00a0chesed<\/i>\u00a0and Torah, while ensconced in complete\u00a0emunah<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Why Eight?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It becomes clear now why Chanukah is the holiday of eight. Eight is above nature. Chanukah is a manifestation of an eternal miracle that doesn\u2019t end. It\u2019s the light of eternity that surpasses Creation.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s true that the\u00a0Ohr HaGanuz<\/i>, hidden light, from Creation was hidden away for\u00a0tzaddikim<\/i>, but the light of Chanukah enables a spiritual world to continue endlessly. It\u2019s a natural recognition by man of miracles that led to a celebration of the re-dedication of the second\u00a0Beis HaMikdash<\/i>, thus bringing the\u00a0Shechinah\u00a0<\/i>to this world. This was a heavenly-man reunification that would symbolize an eternal world.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

G-d created this world for man to see Him in everything and ultimately rely on Him for all his needs. In addition, G-d wants man to spread His lofty name throughout the world; a feat that can be accomplished through exhibiting elevated character.<\/p>\n

By following this method, G-d will become further glorified in this world, and when His name is revealed to all, it will be an eternal state of being.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On the 25th of Kislev we experience an outward light, while on the 25th of Elul, the light of Creation was concealed. What’s the interplay between Creation and Chanukah? Creation is a seven-day closed event while Chanukah embodies the number eight, an above nature occurrence. Creation ended – Vayechulu\u00a0– but Chanukah is “Chanu” a rest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133844,"featured_media":58379,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[344],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chanukah"],"yoast_head":"\nChanukah as Capping Creation\u00a0 - Jewish Holidays<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/chanukah-as-capping-creation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chanukah as Capping Creation\u00a0 - Jewish Holidays\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On the 25th of Kislev we experience an outward light, while on the 25th of Elul, the light of Creation was concealed. 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