Timeless Torah

The repository of much of our Oral Law is the Talmud. As previously mentioned, the very first created entity, the light of Genesis, Day One, was hidden. Among the more unexpected spots this Primordial Ray was secreted in was in the 36 candles of Chanukah. Coincidentally enough, the Talmud just happens to consist of 36 volumes of Gemorah. Yet try to find any mention of Chanukah in this overwhelming compendium, and like an olive, you’ll be hard-pressed.

Indeed, the tale of this major event in Jewish history occupies just one Daf (a Talmudic double-sided page). Compare this with Rosh Hashana, Sukkos or Pesach where each of these festivals has an entire volume of Talmud dedicated solely to them. Even the other Rabbinic holiday of Purim merited a complete volume. Nonetheless, although quantitatively shortchanged, the Talmudic discussion about Chanukah has some far reaching repercussions.

One example of this is the dictum, “One who is accustomed with a candle will have children who are scholars.” The medieval commentary, Rashi, explains that this refers specifically to the candles of Shabbos and Chanukah. However, why the lighting of a few candles should change your child’s academic progress, requires further inquiry. In fact, one can safely point out that there are indeed many households that are meticulous in these two areas and yet their young are not necessarily intellectual giants.

                The Maharal from Prague (16th century, Prague), universally accepted as one of the seminal figures in systemizing Jewish thought, therefore had another way of paraphrasing this Talmudic statement. According to him it should be read, “One who is <strong>accustomed to looking at the whole world as a candle</strong> will have children that are scholars.”  So how does looking a particular way aid my child’s education? And what exactly does it mean to look at the world like a candle?

A candle or any other lamp requires an energy source of continuous replenishment, be it oil, wax, gas or electricity. As our Shabbos or Chanukah candles burn down and the flames are dancing their last we might be tempted to ask ourselves, “What has been accomplished through this exercise of lighting? The oil is gone, the money is spent but what actually remains?” This is in contrast to buying a new suit for ourselves which has, comparatively speaking, a longer shelf life.

The Maharal states that although the oil has been consumed the light generated continues to run an eternal course. It goes on forever. That is why every mitzvah is compared to light as in the verse, “The candle is a mitzvah and the Torah is light.” Maybe that is why so many wonder about the value of a good deed and question, “What is gained by performing a Mitzvah? It’s here today, gone tomorrow. ” But in truth, as the Maharal elaborates, a commandment is nothing less than taking a piece of this temporal world and unlocking its immortal essence. Similarly, a lump of wax is limited. Utilize it as fuel however and illuminate someone’s life for even a minute and you have possibly changed their life forever.

Therefore when one is in the business of “looking at the entire world like it is a candle,” the whole world is seen as being packed with endless spiritual potential. Any item, each person, and every moment is chock full of limitless possibility.

It once happened that the great sage Rabbi Yochanan was bathing in the river when Reish Lakish who was a gangster leapt across the expanse of the river to steal the Rabbi’s possessions. When the Sage saw the athletic prowess of this criminal he didn’t shout “thief” but declared, “Your power should be used for Torah!”

In response Reish Lakish countered that it was a shame that such beauty as Rabbi Yochanan’s was wasted on a man. The Rabbi answered, “If you think I am beautiful, you should see my sister. Commit yourself to learning Torah and I will give her to you for a wife.” Reish Lakish, in one astonishing moment agreed and in time became a great scholar.

Obviously, Rabbi Yochanan knew how to “look at the world like a candle.” Even while being mugged, he was less affected by the present danger than by the tragic vision of such misappropriated potential. Other areas where we must develop this outlook is Jewish education or charity. Here too, it’s worth knowing that our investment of time and money will live long after the classes are over or the money is spent.

        So why is there so little discussion about Chanukah in the Talmud? Perhaps to teach use that each word of our holy heritage inherently possess a never-ending, ongoing, unlimited flow of ideas.