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"Through the Light of Chanukah, Hannah Brought Down the Soul of Mashiach" – Chanukah by the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days)

עורך ראשי
"Through the Light of Chanukah, Hannah Brought Down the Soul of Mashiach" – Chanukah by the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days)

"On Chanukah, a flaming fire breaks out that cannot be stopped; this is a flaming fire that descends from heaven through the Chanukah candles.

Rebbe Nachman brings in Torah 249 (of Likutey Moharan) that 'suddenly a spirit of gevurah (courage) clothes a person,' and then he can perform an act of heroism, because 'the essence of gevurah (courage) is in the heart.' One whose heart is strong fears no person in the world."

"There is no fear, no Arabs, no nothing—nothing else exists; he has only 'Ein Od Milvado' (there is none besides Him), only Hashem. This spirit can be received on Chanukah just as Hannah merited. 'Chanukah' (חנוכה) is Chana-Ko (the letters Chana plus the number 26, the numerical value of Hashem's Name), Chana-Havayah (the Tetragrammaton), Hannah for Hashem. 'And Hannah prayed to Hashem'—she sees only Hashem, she is only dveika (cleaved) to Hashem. Therefore, the entire essence of Chanukah is nimshach (drawn) from Hannah. Rabbi Natan explains in Choshen Mishpat (Likutei Halachos) that all of Chanukah comes from the lights of Hannah, from the neshama (soul) of Hannah. Hannah does not abandon her prayers, her emunah (faith); she does not abandon her emunah (faith) for anything in the world."

"From the age of 10, Hannah began to pray that she would merit a righteous son (tzaddik), and at the age of 130, she was blessed with a child (nifkeda). For 120 years, she only prayed to Hashem and succeeded in bringing down the neshama (soul) of Shmuel (Samuel), who is equal to Moshe (Moses) and Aharon (Aaron). Shmuel anointed Shaul (Saul) and David, and the main thing is David, who is Mashiach (the Messiah), as it is written: 'I have prepared a ner (lamp) for My anointed.' This is the light of Chanukah—when a person decides to surrender himself to Hashem Yisbarach (the Blessed Hashem), he receives a spirit of oz (strength) and gevurah (courage). Then, through this spirit, he can wage mighty milchamos (wars) and defeat all the resha'im (wicked ones), all the Misyavnim (Hellenists), and bring the Geulah (Redemption)."

"Just as Hannah merited, through the light of Chanukah she brought down the neshama (soul) of Mashiach (the Messiah). 'Chanukah' = Chana-Ko (26, the numerical value of Hashem's name). Hannah practiced mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) for Hashem Yisbarach (the Blessed Hashem); she did everything only for Hashem, she requested a son only for Hashem. And today, mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) is simply to sit and learn! It is not to wage war with anyone; it is simply to sit and learn and immerse one's head in the holy Torah, in the holy Gemara (Talmud)."

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