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To further understand the meaning of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, wemust answer a few questions that will hopefully enlighten us.

There seems to be an underlying connection between shemen- oil, andshemona- the number eight. What is it? The Maharal says that words with the

same shoresh almost always have an underlying message. There also seems to bea connection between Yosef and Chanukah. Parshat Mikeitz is always read onShabbat Chanukah. What is this odd connection? Often we find that water is asymbol for torah. But, we also find that fire (Menorah) is a symbol of Torah. Howcan both of these be, how can two opposites both be allegories to Torah? Lastly,there is an idea that says that Chanukah is a holiday that celebrates the idea of

Torah Shebeal Peh, as supposed to Torah Shebichtav. In fact, from the time of Chanukah and on, there was a tremendous growth, rise of study of Torah ShebealPeh.

First we will deal with the connection between shemen and shemona. There

is a famous Midrash in a Gemara- that Hashem taught Adam HaRishon about fire;how to control it, deal with it, handle it; on Motzei Shabbat after the seven days of creation: oil. Oils have been used throughout history as religious mediums. Oil isoften seen as a spiritually purifying agent. Throughout histories of religions, oil isconstantly used to anoint kings and queens, inclusive of Judaism. But when was oilused for the first time? When did oil gain much importance; going from a dressingfor Earths first people, to a force powerful enough to control the uncontrollable:FIRE-? On Motzei Shabbat following the first Day of Rest. Think: what is MotzeiShabbat? -----The next day! In Judaism, each day begins at night. So oil is thecreation on the 8 th day!! On day one, light, fire, was created. On day four, lightwas manifested in something tangible-luminaries; sun, moon, stars. And, finally, onday eight, light was controlled.

Next, we will find a connection between Yosef and Chanukah. In ParshatVayeitzei, Chapter 30, Verses 25-26, Scripture states: And it was, when Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, Grant me leave that I may go to my

place and to my land. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and I will go; for you are aware of my service that I labored for you. Yaakovrequests of Lavan permission to return home, now that Yosef has been born. Rashiasks why at the birth of Yosef, Yaakov wishes to return home? In Ovadiah, Verse18, the text reads, The house of Jacob will be fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and

the house of Esau for straw, and they will ignite them and devour them. There willbe no survivor to the house of Esau, for HASHEM has spoken. Yosef, the flame,completes the Yaakov, the fire. The flame means taking the fire and turning it intoa single flame. Fire is not complete without the flame. So, now that Yaakov iscomplete, his fire will be able to defeat Esavs straw. With Yosef, Yaakov will beable to defeat Esav. When Yaakov ran away to Beit Lavan, he needed a place tostay while he prepared for the inevitable showdown, the final clash, with Esav.However, when Yaakov met Rachel, his plans were delayed; he had fallen in love.

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And through Lavans artifices, Yaakovs plans were further encumbered. But, whenhe finally had had a child with Rachel, the only reason for which he had stayed inBeit Lavan all those years, he was ready to fight Esav, and to defeat him.

In comparison to Torah Shebeal Peh, there is very little human input in

Torah Shebichtav. In order for us to take Torah Shebicthav to the next level, wemust make the Torah ours. Chanukah was the first time in history that we foughtfor the Torah. It is only at that point that we begin to take Torah to that next level.And as we all know, Torah is like light. Torah is that guiding force that we must alllive by. The Maharal writes, All of the Divine commandments are One, a singleunity. This idea finds expression in the verse, A commandment is like a flame i.e., each commandment is and individual flame. However, the Torah is not themere sum total of many individual flames, rather, the Torah is light. The Torah,which contains all of the individual commandments, is a single unified light. Theflames unite to from one great light, for the Torah is a single unit. Clearly, the

Torah is comparable to light.

Lastly, we will discuss how both fire and water can be compared to Torah. Torah has two aspects. One is represented by fire, one by water. Torah isnecessary for Jewish survival. So, it makes sense to juxtapose Torah and water.Water is the basic element for survival. However, in addition to that, Torah is alsosupposed to be used to guide, counsel, instruct, influence, and educate the world.Not only is Torah necessary for Jewish survival, but it is essential for the world to beshown the way by the light-Torah.

How does all this relate to Chanukah? In order for the Jewish People as awhole to make the Torah serve as a role model for the world, we first must reallyconnect to the Torah ourselves! We must internalize the values of the Torah. Onlythen will others be able to incorporate our cultural values, mores, and motives intotheir lives. How do we truly connect to the Torah? We fight for it-CHANUKAH. Whatwas Chanukah really about? It was the first time Am Yisrael ever fought FOR the

Torah. And we, today, must continue what they started long ago. We must fight forour beliefs, our values, our light, our Torah. Only then will we be able to defeat ourenemies, and lead the world through the darkness. Only then will we control all of Hashems commandments, our flame, and live a life of Torah- light. From the fire,

Torah will emerge, a single unit.