For תרס”ה 4
המצות שתקנו בחנוכה בנרות והלל והודאה.
The mitzvot established for Chanukah are the lights, and the recitation of Hallel and thanksgiving.
He introduces Chanukah as centered on illumination and praise, practices that express revived spiritual vitality.
דכתיב לא המתים יהללו.
As it is written: “The dead do not praise.”
Only the spiritually alive can truly offer praise to God.
חי חי יודוך.
“The living, the living—they will thank You.”
Real life is measured by the capacity for gratitude.
וכל החיים יודוך.
“And all who live will thank You.”
The Sefat Emet emphasizes that life itself is defined by the ability to express thanks.
והנה עיקר החיות מקבל איש ישראל על ידי תורה ומצות.
The essence of vitality received by a Jew comes through Torah and mitzvot.
True spiritual life flows from divine connection through practice.
כמ”ש כי היא חייך.
As it is written: “For it is your life.”
The Torah is described as the very life-force of Israel.
אשר יעשה אותם האדם וחי בהם.
“Which a person shall do and live by them.”
The performance of mitzvot generates spiritual vitality.
והיונים שרצו להשכיחנו תורה ומצות מררו את חיינו.
And the Greeks, who sought to make us forget Torah and mitzvot, embittered our lives.
Their decree attacked the very source of Jewish life.
דאיתא במדרש קץ שם לחושך כו’.
As the Midrash says: “He set an end to darkness…”
The exile of Greece is associated with spiritual darkness.
אבן אופל כו’.
“A stone of darkness…”
This symbolizes a blockage of spiritual light.
כל זמן שיצה”ר בעולם אבן אופל וצלמות בעולם.
As long as the evil inclination exists in the world, there is a stone of darkness and shadow in the world.
The yetzer hara is the force that obscures divine illumination.
אבן פירוש יסוד.
“Stone” means foundation.
He reinterprets the word as indicating a primal grounding.
כי הגוף יסודו מן העפר ולכן סופו לעפר והיא המיתה והחושך.
For the body’s foundation is from dust, and therefore it returns to dust; this is death and darkness.
Physicality is inherently limited and tends toward decay.
אבל נשמת האדם יסודו מן השמים והוא התורה ומצות שנק’ אבן.
But the human soul’s foundation is from heaven, and it is the Torah and mitzvot, which are called “stone.”
The higher foundation of the soul is rooted in divine law and spiritual practice.
כמ”ש במד’ בחוקותי יבא האבן וישמור את האבן ע”ש.
As stated in the Midrash on Bechukotai: “The stone will come and guard the stone.”
This refers to the heavenly foundation protecting the earthly one.
וע”י התורה ומצות מתעורר כח הנשמה.
And through Torah and mitzvot the power of the soul is awakened.
Spiritual practice activates the higher dimension within a person.
דכתיב ויפח באפיו נשמת חיים.
As it is written: “And He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”
The divine breath is reawakened by mitzvah-performance.
ואז גובר הנשמה על הגוף והוא בחי’ עץ החיים.
Then the soul prevails over the body; this is the aspect of the Tree of Life.
Spirituality gains dominance when illuminated by divine connection.
ואז חי חי יודוך.
And then: “The living, the living, will thank You.”
Gratitude arises naturally from the awakened soul.
והכל תלוי במחשבות והרהורי אדם כל היום או רובו.
And everything depends on a person’s thoughts and meditations throughout the day or most of it.
Inner consciousness determines spiritual vitality.
כשמהרהר בתורה ומצות יש בו החיות ואין אופל וצלמות.
When one contemplates Torah and mitzvot, vitality is within him, and there is no darkness or shadow.
Spiritual focus dispels inner obscurity.
כמ”ש במדרש תצוה העושה מצוה מחי’ נפשו שנקרא נר.
As the Midrash on Tetzaveh says: “One who performs a mitzvah vitalizes his soul, which is called a lamp.”
The mitzvah activates the inner flame of the soul.
ולכן תיקנו בנרות ובהלל והודאה שזה תכלית הגאולה שזכינו לחיות.
Therefore they instituted lights and Hallel and thanksgiving, for these express the essence of the redemption—our merit to live.
The practices of Chanukah embody restored spiritual vitality.
שנוכל לעסוק בהלל והודאה.
So that we may engage in praise and thanksgiving.
Life’s purpose is realized in grateful acknowledgment of God.
שבני ישראל נבראו רק ע”ז להלל ולהודות.
For the people of Israel were created solely for this: to praise and to give thanks.
Praise is the essential vocation of Israel.
כמ”ש ז”ל הפה אינו נברא רק להודות.
As our sages said: “The mouth was created only to give thanks.”
The faculty of speech finds its perfection in gratitude.
ובני ישראל בכלל הם הפה בעולם.
And Israel as a whole is the ‘mouth’ of the world.
The nation articulates divine truth on behalf of creation.
בכח הנשמה שמאירה בהם ע”י התורה ומצות כדי להעיד על הבורא ית’ שמו.
Through the power of the soul, which shines within them through Torah and mitzvot, they bear witness to the Creator, blessed be His Name.
The illumination of Torah enables Israel to reveal God in the world.
Summary: Chanukah celebrates the restoration of spiritual vitality through Torah and mitzvot, which awaken the soul, dispel darkness, and enable Israel to fulfill its purpose of praising and testifying to God.
