Right and Left in Hanukkah For תרל”ה 9
(ליל ח) נר חנוכה בשמאל כדי שתהא מזוזה בימין כו’.
“(Night 8) The Chanukah light is placed on the left so that the mezuzah will be on the right…”
The Sefat Emet begins by noting the halachic placement of the Chanukah lamp, emphasizing the primacy of the right side, associated with holiness and enduring life.
דכתיב אורך ימים בימינה כו’ דרשו חז”ל העוסקין שלא לשמה אעפ”כ עושר וכבוד כו’.
“As it is written: ‘Length of days is in her right hand.’ And the Sages taught: those who engage [in Torah] not for its own sake nevertheless receive wealth and honor…”
The right side symbolizes the higher path of Torah for its own sake, yet even imperfect engagement draws blessing.
פירוש שבודאי דרך הישר הוא עפ”י התורה ואז אין צריך לנסים וכן ראוי שיתנהג כל איש ישראל וכן רצון השי”ת שברא האדם ישר כו’.
“Meaning: certainly the straight path is according to the Torah, and then one does not require miracles. This is how every Israelite should live, for this is God’s will, Who created the human being upright…”
The ideal life is aligned with Torah, flowing naturally without the need for supernatural intervention.
אעפ”כ מי שעוסק בתורה כח התורה עוזר לו אף אם נכשל בדרך מעוקם.
“Nevertheless, one who engages in Torah is helped by the power of Torah even if he stumbles on a crooked path.”
Torah study has sustaining force even when one’s conduct is imperfect.
והשי”ת מצילו עפ”י נס.
“And the Holy One, blessed be He, saves him through a miracle.”
Divine assistance manifests miraculously for those who need it.
ובודאי בנס דחנוכה היו בני ישראל בשפל המצב עד שטמאו כל השמנים אעפ”כ עזר לנו השי”ת.
“And certainly, in the Chanukah miracle, the Israelites were in a degraded state, until all the oils were defiled; nevertheless, God helped us.”
The Chanukah miracle emerged precisely from a moment of profound spiritual and physical decline.
ואנו צריכין להראות כי הימין עיקר ולבטל נ”ח משמאל להמזוזה שהיא מימין והוא העיקר.
“And we must demonstrate that the right side is primary, by placing the Chanukah lamp on the left opposite the mezuzah on the right, for the right side is the essential one.”
The ritual arrangement reinforces the hierarchy of spiritual forces: the enduring Torah-right over the miracle-left.
ואלו ב’ הדברים הם הלל והודאה כי על זמן דחנוכה העיקר הודאה רק שסמכו חכמים להלל כי הימין קודם כנ”ל:
“And these two matters are Hallel and Thanksgiving: for in the time of Chanukah the main element is Thanksgiving, but the Sages added Hallel because the right side takes precedence, as stated above.”
Chanukah emphasizes gratitude, yet Hallel is added to align the practice with the primacy of the right-oriented spiritual mode.
Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that Chanukah ritual placement reflects a deeper spiritual hierarchy: the right side of Torah, uprightness, and natural divine flow is primary, while the left side represents miraculous assistance when one falters. Chanukah reveals God’s help even in spiritual decline, yet the mitzvot emphasize returning to the primacy of the right.
