Chanukah

There are seven Rabbinical mitzvahs and all are prefaced with the brocha that suggests a Divine command. ‘Asher kiddeshuno bmitzvosov vetzeivanu…’ Nowhere does the Gemora question this concept of Hashem commanding a rabbinical ordained mitzvah. Except Ner Chanukah. The Gemora asks ‘Where did Hashem command us to light Ner Chanukah? (Shabbos 23a).
When the Mishkon was inaugurated the twelve nasiem each brought a set of korbanos to dedicate the Mishkon. Rashi (the beginning of Parshas Behaloscha) says that Ahron was distressed why he wasn’t part of the chanukas hamishkon. Hashem told him that his portion is greater than theirs for he will light the menorah. The Ramban says “Korbanos are limited to the Bais Hamikdash. They can be brought only as long as the Bais Hamikdash stands. This is true with the menorah in the Bais Hamikdash. With the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash came an end to all avodah- including korbanos and Menorah. Kohanim, however still continue to serve even after the churban- they bless Klal Yisroel. Similarly, the Menorah continues even after the churban. This is the Ner of Chanukah that is ongoing even in exile. Hence Ahron’s mitzvah is greater than the Nasiem- for in every generation we light the Menorah. Note that the dedication of the Mishkon is preceded with Birchas Kohanim and followed by reference to Ner Chanukah. These two Mitzvahs continue to proclaim the grandeur of Ahron.”
There is a fundamental difference between these two mitzvah- Birchas Kohanim and Menorah. Birchas Kohanim does not require the Bais Hamikdash it can be said anywhere that there are ten Jews gathered. Not so the Menorah, the Menorah was an avodah of the Bais Hamikdash. Yet the Chachomim took the Menorah of the Bais Hamikdash and gave us an opportunity to bring it into our homes and transform our homes into a sanctuary. The Baal Hamoer explains that this is the reason we cannot derive any pleasure from the Ner Chanukah, for it is the Menorah of the Bais Hamikdash that we are lighting- transferred thru time and space into our own homes. Chanukah is a time when every Jewish home shines with the holy light of the Bais Hamikdash.
The Gemora was never bothered with how the Rabbonim can ordain a new mitzvah. The Gemora’s question of ‘Where did Hashem command us to light Ner Chanukah?’ is, where do we find that the Rabbonim can take the avodah out of the Bais Hamikdash and into our homes.

Adopted from Citadel and Tower by Reb Meir Belsky Volume 2 pg. 157.

May we all be blessed with a lichtiga Chanukah!!