27 Kislev: Beyond the Letter of the Law
BEYOND THE LETTER OF THE LAW
Our Sages taught: the law of Chanukah requires that we light one candle each night; those who are zealous light one for each person, and the most beautiful way is to light one candle the first night and add a light for every night.
(Talmud, Shabbos 21b)
On Chanukah it has become the accepted custom of all Jews to perform the mitzvah in the “most beautiful way,” far beyond the letter of the law.
In Talmudic times, going beyond the minimum letter of the law was considered an act of extra piety. In our times, however, due to the increasing intensity of darkness in the world, more light is necessary. As a result, the concept of going beyond the minimum has now been incorporated as part of Jewish law.
Achieving personal liberation demands that one go beyond the minimum law. This is an intrinsic aspect of the liberation of Chanukah, and achieving the complete liberation of Moshiach.
Sichah 19 Kislev, 5744, sec. 4
