Rabbi Nisan Andrews: Looking at our inner Mizbeach

By Rabbi Nisan Andrews

(Calgary) – Searching for the story of Chanukah in the Tanach (Hebrew Bible) would not be a productive use of time; it simply isn’t there. Instead, the narrative can be found in later sources, with different texts highlighting various aspects of the festival.

While the Al HaNissim prayer emphasizes the miraculous military victory, the Rabbis of the Talmud (Shabbat 21b) focus on the lighting of the Menorah in the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) and the fact that these lamps burned for a full eight days.

This raises an intriguing question. When the Rabbis decided which Torah portions would be read during Chanukah, one might have expected them to select sections related to the Menorah. Instead, they chose passages from Parashat Naso that describe the offerings made by the princes during the inauguration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle).

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903-1993) highlights a lesser-known aspect of Chanukah. The Talmud notes in Yoma 16a that the oil was not the only thing that became defiled by the Greeks; the Mizbeach (Altar) became unusable for spiritual purposes after being used for idolatrous worship by the Greeks.

As a result, when the Hasmoneans re-entered the Beit HaMikdash, they sought not only pure oil but also began the challenging process of constructing a new Mizbeach. The inauguration of this altar involved new Korbanot (sacrifices), which parallels the Biblical inauguration of the original Mizbeach in the Mishkan.

We often associate Chanukah with loud and proud displays of our Jewish identity. Many of the halachot (laws) regarding the lighting of Chanukah candles revolve around the principle of “pirsumei nisa” (publicizing the miracle). For example, the Chanukah menorah should not be placed lower than 3 tefachim (handbreadths) from the ground and no higher than 20 amot (cubits) off the ground, as people do not naturally look up to such heights.

However, Chanukah should also be a time for introspection. True pride in our Jewish identity is only possible when we reflect on what Judaism truly means to us.

What does our inner mizbeach look like? What are we willing to sacrifice ourselves for? Are we driven solely by contemporary Western values, or do we prioritize building a deeper relationship with God through Torah and mitzvot?

As our Chanukah lights shine brightly toward the world, we are also encouraged to shine a metaphorical light inward, toward our internal altar. This is an opportunity to rediscover the spiritual greatness within us and ensure that we are living our most authentically Jewish lives.

Rabbi Nisan Andrews is Rabbi at House of Jacob Mikveh Yisrael in Calgary.