Humility in Praise and Gratitude For תרל”ב 4
(ליל ד) אא”ז מו”ר ז”ל פי’ שעשאום יו”ט בהלל והודאה שיהי’ הארת הימים בזה שיוכל כל איש ישראל לראות כי הכל מהשי”ת שזה עיקר עבודת איש ישראל שנקרא יהודי ע”ז כמ”ש כי אתם המעט ממעטין עצמכם כו’.
“My holy ancestor, my teacher of blessed memory, explained that they established the days as a festival through Hallel and thanksgiving, so that the light of these days would enable every Jew to see that everything comes from God; for this is the essence of the service of a Jew, who is called ‘Yehudi,’ as it is said: ‘For you are the least,’ meaning you make yourselves humble.”
The Sefat Emet teaches that Chanukah’s designation as a time of praise and thanks is meant to illuminate awareness: that all comes from God. This recognition of Divine source is the core of Jewish identity, rooted in humility.
ופי’ הלל והודאה כי הלל הוא שבח על מה שהקב”ה עוזר לאדם.
“And he explained Hallel and thanksgiving: Hallel is praise for the help that the Holy One, blessed be He, gives a person.”
Hallel expresses gratitude for Divine assistance and the revealed good that God bestows.
והודאה הוא גם להיפוך שמודה על קלקולו.
“And thanksgiving is the opposite as well: one gives thanks by acknowledging one’s own wrongdoing.”
Hoda’ah also means admitting one’s faults; true gratitude includes honest self-recognition and humility before God.
וצריך להיות שניהם כאחד אף שיש לאדם בעזר עליון על מה להלל.
“And both must be present together, even when a person has, through Divine help, reason to offer praise.”
A person must hold both praise and self-honesty simultaneously—success should not obscure awareness of one’s flaws.
עכ”ז לא יתגאה וידע כי רק ממנו ית’ הוא:
“Nevertheless, one must not become proud, and must know that everything is only from Him.”
The Sefat Emet concludes that humility must persist even amid Divine favor; all goodness derives solely from God.
Summary: Chanukah’s Hallel and thanksgiving illuminate awareness that all comes from God. True Jewish service unites praise for Divine help with humble acknowledgment of one’s shortcomings, ensuring that success does not lead to pride but deeper recognition of God as the sole source.
