The miracle of channukah

In the Jewish calendar there are two holidays which we have that were established by the Rabbis and not by the Torah: Purim and Channukah. However, there is a difference between the two of them that seems strange at first. We know that we have a tradition that when good things happen to the Jewish people we say a special prayer, called Hallel, which gives thanks to HaShem for all the good things He does for us. On Channukah, along with all the holidays from the Torah, we say this special prayer, but on Purim we don't. What is the reason for this difference?

The Sfas Emes offers a beautiful explanation. He writes that on Purim we were, after the war, still under the leadership of Achashveirosh, whereas on Channukah we were no longer under the rule of the Greeks. However, history tells us that we were not completely free from the Greeks after the war. The Sfas Emes explains further that after the war with the Greeks we were able to serve HaShem by lighting the Channukah candles despite still being without a Temple and still in the feeling of Galut (exile), and do so with a tremendous feeling of happiness and Jewish pride. This, says the Sfas Emes, was the true miracle of Channukah that lasted from the very beginning of the first night through to the very end of the last and even beyond-that we were able to overcome the world around us and still realize what was meaningful in the world and that is the serving of HaShem.

We should all merit to take the light of the Channukah candles and internalize it and see the candles as a message to help us remain strong in our serving of HaShem throughout the rest of the year.