B"H PARSHAS VAYESHEV ----------------- HANUKKAH AND TRUE JEWISH UNITY By Yitzhak Kolakowski Everybody knows that on Hanukkah we light the menorah. HaShem gave Moses a special mitzvah to make the original Menorah for the Mishkan (Exodus 25:31). This Menorah had to meet specific requirements for this special mitzvah. There could only be one Menorah like this in the world. (Note: the Menorah in the Mishkan, later placed in the Jerusalem Temple, was different from the Hannukah menorahs we have today. Hanukkah menorahs hold nine lights, whereas the original Menorah held seven. It is forbidden to make a menorah exactly like the Original Menorah for reasons other than to be placed in the Beth Hamikdash.) The Menorah had to be made out of a single solid piece of pure gold. It could not be different pieces welded together. The Menorah had a solid base, and many branches. Each branch was beautiful and gave off a pure, holy light. Moses tried very hard to make the Menorah as Hashem commanded him, however, he just couldn't do it. So, Moses took a piece of solid gold and threw it into the fire. It came out of the fire exactly as HaShem commanded Moses to make it. No human hand was able to make this perfect source of light for the world. Only a miracle could make the Menorah. Only the hand of G-d. The Menorah represents the Klal Yisroel. We are hewn from a solid piece of gold: Yaakov Avinu. We are not different pieces welded together, but one solid piece hewn into different branches. Although we may look different, and even be different; whether we are Sefardi or Ashkenazi, Chassidish or Litvish, Heimish or Modernly-dressed, we are all one piece of solid, pure gold. We have a solid base supporting all of us, HaShem's Torah, and without it we cannot stand. Each one of us is holy and beautiful, and we are a light unto the nations. Many people talk about Jewish unity. This is very difficult, as difficult it was for Moses to make the original Menorah according to Hashem's command. Human hands could not make the Menorah perfect, nor can human hands alone make Jewish unity possible. Jewish unity needs a miracle. Jewish unity needs the hand of G-d. Contrary to popular belief, it is those who do not keep the Torah who are against Jewish unity. In the days of Hanukkah, some people tried to destroy Jewish unity by extinguishing the light by mixing it with darkness. These were the Hellenists who wanted to copy the ways of the heathenish goyim. The Hashmonaim wanted the light of truth to fill the universe, bringing the goyim to serve HaShem rather than the Jews to copy the goyim. Those who believe in G-d and keep His holy Torah really deeply want to unify the entire universe to serve G-d. The Jewish people must be the Menorah, sending light to all the nations to bring the entire universe back to its Source, the G-d of Israel. Beth Shammai and Beth Hillel disagree about how we should light the Menorah. Beth Shammai said we should start with eight candles on the first night, going down each night until we have only one light left. Everybody knows we follow Beth Hillel, who said we have to start with one candle and add another one every night until we have eight beautiful lights. This is why we read the story of Yosef at this time of the year. Yosef means to add. We start with just one light, but we keep adding to the holiness. This is the highest level, mehadrin min hamehadrin. We need each and every one of you to be added to this holiness. We need each and every one of you to attatch yourself to the Menorah, we need to illuminate the entire world with our light. Our sages say that when we light the Hanukkah menorah we become like the Kohen Gadol in the Beth HaMikdash. We become a nation of Kohanim and a holy nation, a light unto all the other nations. We fufill the purpose of Creation, unifying the entire Universe into the back to its Source. Really all is part of this unity, but darkness blinds us. The light of the Menorah reveals the true unity of us all, that there is no difference between one part of the Menorah and the other. It also shows that the Menorah must bring light to others, but not incorporate parts of other things into the Menorah. This light can only be used for the mitzvah, but cannot be used for other reasons. We only add that which was always part of it. May the holy and true light of the menorah chase away the darkness and reveal that we are all one in the One who is Holy and True, in G-d and in His Torah. May we all feel true Ahavath HaShem, Ahavath HaTorah, and Ahavath Yisrael, for we are all one. May we only add to holiness. GUT SHABBOS & HAPPY HANUKKAH!