Praise and Gratitude to God

(ליל ה) בהלל והודאה.

"(The fifth night) In Hallel and thanksgiving."

The Sefat Emet introduces the theme: the spiritual work of Chanuka involves both Hallel and gratitude.

פי' כמ"ש הללו עבדי ה' ולא עבדי פרעה וכשניצולו מתחת יד מלכות יון הרשעה נכנסו אח"כ בקבלת מלכות שמים.

"Meaning, as it is said: 'Praise, servants of the Lord'—and not servants of Pharaoh; and when they were rescued from the wicked Greek empire, they then entered into accepting the Kingship of Heaven."

He explains that national liberation allows true service of God; the Hasmoneans’ victory opened a path to renewed divine allegiance.

לכן בשנה האחרת שהרגישו קבלת מלכות שמים וזה הלל.

"Thus, in the following year, when they sensed their acceptance of the Kingship of Heaven—this was the Hallel."

The annual institution of Hallel marks recognition of a deepened spiritual awareness.

ואח"כ נתנו ע"ז עצמו שבח והודאה שזכו להלל את ה' ע"י שיצאו מכלל עבדי בשר ודם.

"And afterward they offered praise and thanksgiving for this very fact—that they merited to praise God by no longer being servants of flesh and blood."

Gratitude arises not only for the miracle, but for the freedom enabling divine praise.

וביאור הענין דהלל הוא לה' בלבד.

"And the explanation is that Hallel is for God alone."

Hallel expresses pure God-directed illumination, devoid of human self-involvement.

והודאה הוא בהשתתפות נפש האדם.

"But thanksgiving involves the participation of the human soul."

Unlike Hallel, thanksgiving includes the subjective experience of the person thanking.

הלל הוא הארה אמיתיות מלשון בהלו נרו וכמ"ש בשמך אשא כפי אשא לשון התלהבות שמתבטל כחות האדם ע"י הזכרת שמו הגדול ית'.

"Hallel is true illumination, from the expression 'when His lamp shone'; and as it says, 'In Your Name I lift my palms'—'I lift' meaning an enthusiasm in which human faculties are nullified through mentioning His great Name."

Hallel is depicted as a state of self-transcending divine radiance.

ואז אין האדם זוכר ממהות עצמותו רק להלל לפניו ית' כמו המלאכים שמשבחין להבורא ית' ואין להם ענין אחר כלל.

"Then a person does not recall his own essence at all—only to praise before Him, like the angels who praise the Creator and have no other concern."

Hallel momentarily lifts a person into an angelic state of pure praise.

ובעוה"ז אין אנו מוכנים תמיד לזה לכן הלל רק לפרקים וכמ"ש הלל רק ביום.

"But in this world we are not always prepared for this; therefore Hallel is only occasional, as it is said: Hallel is said only by day."

Human limitation restricts the frequency of this intense illumination.

אבל הודאה הוא תמיד כי בכל מקום יש להודות לה'.

"But thanksgiving is constant, for in every place one must give thanks to God."

Gratitude remains accessible at all times, even without elevated spiritual states.

ואדרבא מי שבשפלות יותר צריך ביותר להודות.

"Indeed, one who is in greater lowliness must thank even more."

Descent itself awakens deeper gratitude, for God’s presence reaches downward.

וזה עצמו ענין אמרם כדי שתהיה מזוזה בימין ונר חנוכה בשמאל.

"And this is the meaning of their statement that the mezuzah is on the right and the Chanuka light on the left."

The placement of mezuzah and Chanuka light reflects the distinction between Hallel and gratitude.

מזוזה גי' הלל.

"Mezuzah has the same numerical value as Hallel."

The mezuzah corresponds to the right side and the illumination of Hallel.

כמ"ש אורך ימים בימינה כמ"ש למען ירבו כו'.

"As it is written: 'Length of days is in her right hand,' and 'that your days may be multiplied.'"

The right side symbolizes continuity and rootedness in Torah.

ואריכות ימים הוא כשיש התדבקות עד השורש בלי עיקום והוא ענין התורה כמו שהי' צריך להיות לולי החטא.

"And length of days is when there is attachment up to the root without distortion; this is the essence of Torah as it would have been without sin."

True spiritual endurance stems from an unbroken connection to divine origin.

אבל כשגבר החטא ואנחנו בגלות אנו שמחים כשיש הארה שמגיע עד מקומות התחתונים.

"But when sin prevailed and we entered exile, we rejoice when there is illumination reaching even the lowest places."

In exile, the lower the light descends, the greater the joy.

וזהו נר חנוכה בשמאל ובלילה.

"And this is the Chanuka light on the left and at night."

The Chanuka lamp embodies light that pierces darkness.

ונותנין הודאה על זה שאור לנו בחושך.

"And we offer thanksgiving for this—that light reaches us in the darkness."

Gratitude arises from illumination in the places farthest from the root.

אבל צריכין לזכור שאין זה העיקר.

"But we must remember that this is not the main goal."

The descent of light is not the ultimate spiritual ideal.

רק להשתוקק לצאת מחשיכה לאורה.

"Rather, to yearn to leave darkness for light."

True aspiration aims upward, beyond the need for light in darkness.

ואז לא נצטרך לבקשת המשכת אור למקומות האפלים.

"Then we will no longer need to request the drawing of light into dark places."

Redemption brings light naturally, without special miracles.

לכן עושין נ"ח טפל למזוזה.

"Therefore the Chanuka lamp is made secondary to the mezuzah."

The primacy of right-side illumination reflects the ultimate ideal.

ובאמת תכלית ההארה למטה צריך להיות צורך עלי'.

"And in truth, the purpose of illumination below is to serve ascent."

Light enters the lower realms only to elevate them.

להיות נעשה הכל ימין והבן כ"ז.

"Until all becomes right side—understand this."

The final state unifies all realms in pure divine illumination.

The Sefat Emet distinguishes Hallel as pure divine illumination and Hodaa as human-participatory gratitude, mapping them onto mezuzah (right) and Chanuka light (left). Chanuka’s miracle reflects light reaching low places, yet the ultimate aim is ascent toward a state where all is illuminated from the right.