Before lighting the Chanukah candles, we recite a blessing acknowledging that God has “commanded us to kindle the Chanukah lights.” When exactly did God do that?! Where in the Bible can we find God’s commandment concerning this distinctly post-Biblical holiday observance?!
Some argue that God’s “command” – the Mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles – is a prime example of the constantly unfolding nature of Divine Revelation. Even after the close of the Biblical canon, Jews continued to respond to a commanding Divine Will. It may not be in the Torah… but Chanukah candles are, indeed, a Divine Mandate: a Mitzvah.
Rabbi Avia (Shabbat 23a) argues that the commanded nature of Chanukah candles can be traced to the Torah’s admonition: “You shall act in accordance with the instructions given you… You must not deviate from them” (Deuteronomy 17:11). That is, the Torah commands us to heed the Sages – who instructed us to celebrate Chanukah!
Rabbi Nehemiah, however, finds the Biblical source of the Chanukah commandment in “Ask your father, he will inform you; your elders, they will tell you!” (Deuteronomy 32:7). Nehemiah captures the festive nature of Chanukah observances by choosing a verse from the concluding Song of the Torah (“Ha’azinu”)… and wisely celebrates the indispensable role of family in transmission of Jewish Tradition.
Chanukah: a Command Performance.
Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the editor of “Masorti: The New Journal of Conservative Judaism.”
Some argue that God’s “command” – the Mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles – is a prime example of the constantly unfolding nature of Divine Revelation. Even after the close of the Biblical canon, Jews continued to respond to a commanding Divine Will. It may not be in the Torah… but Chanukah candles are, indeed, a Divine Mandate: a Mitzvah.