Meaningful Moadim
  • Welcome to Meaningful Moadim
    • Tu BiShevat - The New Year of the Trees >
      • Bearing Fruit
      • Lesson of the Trees
      • Pri Eitz Hadar
      • Tu BeShevat – A Day of Perceptible Belief
    • Mishenichnas Adar Marbim BeSimcha >
      • A Purim Thought
      • Mazal Adar Dagim - The Month of Adar is Symbolized by Fish
      • More on Mazel Adar Dagim
      • The First of "the Four Parshiyos" - Parshas Shekalim
      • The Month of Adar and Purim >
        • Holiday of Unity?
      • Why Megillas ESTHER?
      • Purim and Prayer >
        • Prayer in the Megillah
      • The Most Unhappiest Queen of them all
      • Purim and Charity
      • Making Purim Last Throughout the Year
      • Story: The Purim of Saragosa
      • KISLEV - Great Expectations >
        • What is Chanukah? >
          • The Name of the Holiday >
            • Chanukah: Renewal
            • Why is Shehechiyanu recited only on the first night of Chanukah?
            • Biblical Allusions
            • Another explanation of the name Chanukah
            • Ve-Al Hnissim, not Al Hanissim
            • Mai Chanukah?
            • Bais Shamai and Bais Hillel (2)
            • Mazal Kislev Keshes
            • Why didn't the Kohanim themselves defile the oil if everyone was tamei, ritually impure due to the war? >
              • Chanukah Always has a Shabbos >
                • Chanukah Always Falls our Around parshas Mikeitz
              • Tu B'shvat and Shabbos Shira
      • We blow the Shofar Throughout the Month of Elul
      • Shofar Throughout the Month of Elul
      • Reconnecting with our Father in Heaven
      • Month of Teves: Catastrophic Events
      • Questions or Comments? >
        • TAKING A MOMENT OUT FOR A CHANUKAH THOUGHT >
          • TAKING A MOMENT OUT FOR A CHANUKAH THOUGHT
        • Calendar Converter
    • Chanukah: The Festival of Lights >
      • Are we celebrating the victory over the Greeks or the Miracle of the Oil? >
        • Miracle Oil?
        • The Jewish People Are Above Nature
        • The Light of the Jewish Soul Glows on Chanukah
        • Chanukah: A Winter Festival
        • Chanukah: A War of Conflicting Philosophies >
          • Alexander The Great and The Jewish Sages
          • Uphold Good or Destroy Evil?
          • LeHashkicham Torasecha U’LeHa’aviram MeiChukei Retzonecha
        • Why was a holiday established specifically for the war that led to the Chanukah miracle?
        • U’Leamcha Yisrael Assisa Teshua Gedola U’furkan K’Hayom Hazeh…
      • Give the Gift of LIGHT!
      • Customs, Symbols & Observances >
        • More Reasons for Doughnuts on Chanukah
        • The Letters on the Dreidel
        • More Customs >
          • More About the Dreidel
          • More on Dreidel
          • Chanukah Gelt
          • The Lesson of "Chanukah Gelt"
          • L'Hodos U'LaHallel
        • More Symbolism >
          • Symbolism of Olive Oil
          • The Greeks vs. The Jews
          • The Little Jug that Traveled Through Time
        • The Custom to serve Dairy and Cheese Products on Chanukah
        • Tzedaka - Charity
      • The Shamash >
        • The Secret of the Shamash
      • Putting Away the Menorah?
      • Recommended Reading

thanksgiving and praise

LeHodos U'LeHallel

            Chazal refer to Chanukah as days set aside for Hallel v'Hoda’ah (praise and thanks). Rav Wolbe makes a keen observation. When we mention the numerous different levels of praise that human beings offer Hashem, the first rung on the ladder is generally Hoda’ah. In the tefillah of nishmas we state that "it is incumbent upon all creations L'hodos L'hallel L'shabeiach L'fa'eir (to give thanks, praise, laud and glorify)..." In the hallel we proclaim "with song Yodu V'yishabchu Vifaaru..." In contrast, we find that the praises that the angels offer (as mentioned in the tefillah of Yotzeir Ohr) differ slightly. "And they all open their mouths with holiness, purity, song, and hymn - Umivarechim U'mishabechim U'mifaarim..." The first level of Hoda’ah is lacking in their repertoire of praises.

            Although on most levels the praises of humans and angels are equal, the specific concept of Hoda’ah is limited to humans alone. This is because the concept of Hoda’ah is giving thanks for something received from Hashem. The essence of an angel is the mission for which he was created, and he does not have the tools with which to receive anything that would in turn call for him to give thanks. In contrast, Hoda’ah is not only a vital part of human obligations, but it is also the first rung on the ladder of praises offered to Hashem.     

            Just as giving thanks is a fundamental part of our Avodah, being deficient in this area (Kefias Tovah) is extremely detrimental and destructive. The Ramban explains that the sin of the Generation of Dispersion was their ambition to make a "name for themselves" (V'naaseh Lanu Sheim). They wished to entirely disconnect themselves from their Creator; something which our Sages tell us was rooted in their negative trait of ingratitude. One who desires to disengage himself from Hashem has in effect stated that he does not wish to recognize and thank his Benefactor for all the goodness and bounty that He bestows. The Generation of Dispersion wished to disconnect the creation from the Creator, and measure for measure Hashem disconnected them from one another by dispersing them throughout the land.  
            The Mashgiach observes that one who thinks that he lives in a world where everything is already here for him and therefore their use is coming to him, cannot see Hashem in the creation. Everything exists solely due to the will of Hashem, and therefore it is as if He is constantly creating yaish mei'ayin (something from nothing). The Sages instituted the recitation of blessings before partaking in worldly pleasures for they wished to make us cognizant of this reality. When we say "borei pree ha'eitz" this allows us to conjure up Hashem's creation of the Earth and the commandment that it should produce vegetation, trees and fruit. Have we not just beheld Hashem's creation of the fruit from complete nothingness?

       The Avodah of Chanukah is to understand that everything that we have is due entirely to the will of Hashem. How thankful we must be for all the bounty He bestows upon us. With regard to material acquisitions we are told "And you should be happy with all the good that Hashem has given you." How much more so is this true with regard to our spiritual acquisitions? The difference between us and those who do not know the beauty of the Torah, allows us to recognize the greatness of the Torah and thank the Giver for His boundless kindness. Contemplating this concept is a most worthwhile endeavor, especially during the days of Chanukah that were designated for this purpose.
​The Avodah of Chanukah is to understand that everything that we have is due entirely to the will of Hashem. How thankful we must be for all the bounty He bestows upon us. 
​Rav Wolbe would not allow his talmidim to go home for the Shabbos during Chanukah. An essential part of Chanukah is remembering the miracles performed for the Chashmonaim due to their mesirus nefesh for the sake of Hashem. Moreover, he asserted that in this regard Chanukah is an auspicious time, and one who utilizes it properly can gain chizuk in his avodas Hashem for the entire year!
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  • Welcome to Meaningful Moadim
    • Tu BiShevat - The New Year of the Trees >
      • Bearing Fruit
      • Lesson of the Trees
      • Pri Eitz Hadar
      • Tu BeShevat – A Day of Perceptible Belief
    • Mishenichnas Adar Marbim BeSimcha >
      • A Purim Thought
      • Mazal Adar Dagim - The Month of Adar is Symbolized by Fish
      • More on Mazel Adar Dagim
      • The First of "the Four Parshiyos" - Parshas Shekalim
      • The Month of Adar and Purim >
        • Holiday of Unity?
      • Why Megillas ESTHER?
      • Purim and Prayer >
        • Prayer in the Megillah
      • The Most Unhappiest Queen of them all
      • Purim and Charity
      • Making Purim Last Throughout the Year
      • Story: The Purim of Saragosa
      • KISLEV - Great Expectations >
        • What is Chanukah? >
          • The Name of the Holiday >
            • Chanukah: Renewal
            • Why is Shehechiyanu recited only on the first night of Chanukah?
            • Biblical Allusions
            • Another explanation of the name Chanukah
            • Ve-Al Hnissim, not Al Hanissim
            • Mai Chanukah?
            • Bais Shamai and Bais Hillel (2)
            • Mazal Kislev Keshes
            • Why didn't the Kohanim themselves defile the oil if everyone was tamei, ritually impure due to the war? >
              • Chanukah Always has a Shabbos >
                • Chanukah Always Falls our Around parshas Mikeitz
              • Tu B'shvat and Shabbos Shira
      • We blow the Shofar Throughout the Month of Elul
      • Shofar Throughout the Month of Elul
      • Reconnecting with our Father in Heaven
      • Month of Teves: Catastrophic Events
      • Questions or Comments? >
        • TAKING A MOMENT OUT FOR A CHANUKAH THOUGHT >
          • TAKING A MOMENT OUT FOR A CHANUKAH THOUGHT
        • Calendar Converter
    • Chanukah: The Festival of Lights >
      • Are we celebrating the victory over the Greeks or the Miracle of the Oil? >
        • Miracle Oil?
        • The Jewish People Are Above Nature
        • The Light of the Jewish Soul Glows on Chanukah
        • Chanukah: A Winter Festival
        • Chanukah: A War of Conflicting Philosophies >
          • Alexander The Great and The Jewish Sages
          • Uphold Good or Destroy Evil?
          • LeHashkicham Torasecha U’LeHa’aviram MeiChukei Retzonecha
        • Why was a holiday established specifically for the war that led to the Chanukah miracle?
        • U’Leamcha Yisrael Assisa Teshua Gedola U’furkan K’Hayom Hazeh…
      • Give the Gift of LIGHT!
      • Customs, Symbols & Observances >
        • More Reasons for Doughnuts on Chanukah
        • The Letters on the Dreidel
        • More Customs >
          • More About the Dreidel
          • More on Dreidel
          • Chanukah Gelt
          • The Lesson of "Chanukah Gelt"
          • L'Hodos U'LaHallel
        • More Symbolism >
          • Symbolism of Olive Oil
          • The Greeks vs. The Jews
          • The Little Jug that Traveled Through Time
        • The Custom to serve Dairy and Cheese Products on Chanukah
        • Tzedaka - Charity
      • The Shamash >
        • The Secret of the Shamash
      • Putting Away the Menorah?
      • Recommended Reading