A New Letter from Prison for Chanukah - Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

A new letter for Chanukah from our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, which he dictated from within the prison walls to his attorney and requested that it be published quickly for his students.

Kislev 5782

"The eight days of Chanukah came to nullify the power of the eight kings of Edom: Bela ben Beor (Parashat Vayishlach, Book of Genesis, Chapter 36, verses 31-39, hinting at the attribute of Da'at, and he is Bilam ben Beor), who swallows the entire world, and on the first candle of Chanukah, we subdue him."

"Yovav ben Zerach of Bozrah (hinting at the attribute of Chesed), whom we subdue on the second candle (of Chanukah)."

"Afterwards, there is Chusham from the land of the Temani (hinting at the attribute of Gevurah), who is full of severities, and him we subdue on the third candle."

"And afterwards we have Hadad ben Bedad (hinting at the attribute of Tiferet), which is a person who is always happy in wars, and the fourth candle subdues him."

"And afterwards we have Samlah of Masrekah (hinting at the attributes of Netzach and Hod), who whistles over the whole world and is subdued on the fifth candle."

"Afterwards there is Shaul of Rechovot HaNahar (hinting at the attribute of Yesod; his place, 'Rechovot HaNahar,' hints at the Sefirah of Binah), who spread over the whole world like a river, and he is subdued on the sixth candle."

"Afterwards we have Chanan ben Achbor (hinting at the attribute of Malchut), whom we subdue on the seventh candle."

"Then comes Hadar ben Pa'u, who makes himself appear as if he is praying, building churches and mosques, and him we subdue on the eighth candle."

"Greetings to everyone."

"And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel. And Bela ben Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhavah. And Bela died, and Yovav ben Zerach of Bozrah reigned in his stead. And Yovav died, and Chusham from the land of the Temani reigned in his stead. And Chusham died, and Hadad ben Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moav, reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Avit. And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. And Samlah died, and Shaul of Rechovot HaNahar reigned in his stead. And Shaul died, and Baal Chanan ben Achbor reigned in his stead. And Baal Chanan ben Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Pa'u, and the name of his wife was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mei Zahav."

Book of Genesis, Chapter 36, verses 31-39