Jewish Holidays

The individual Chanukah candle symbolizes the Torah as a whole - one entity which is more than the mere sum of its commandments. The additional candles allude to the commandments - the concrete outward manifestation of the Torah's inner essence.

Chanukah is a time of praise and thanksgiving to God for the miracles and wonders that He performed on behalf of our ancestors “in those days at this time.” It is also a time to reflect upon and learn from the great events which happened in those days.

Early authorities ask: Why does the Torah enjoin us to commemorate the Clouds of Glory of all things. Why not the Manna? Why not Miriam's Well? After all, the presence of these miracles may have been even more important than the Clouds of Glory.