4965 —אור החנוכה הנצחי, הספירות, ואזכור בציון

B"H, 23 Kislev, 5717.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a ish rav pe'alim ba'al middot Moshe Gershon Goldzweig

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I received your letter through Haraha"g Haraha"ch who are involved in tzt"z, the shadarim shlita who visited their holy camp. As you requested, I will mention you and all those you wrote about at the holy resting place of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzukal lehavdil ben chayim lechayim zichro yagen aleinu.

Since the days of Chanukah are approaching, it is known there are differing opinions* whether Chanukah corresponds to the Sefirah of Netzach or Hod. In any case, both are from the thighs of truth that extend beyond the body; nevertheless, they each have a special quality. As our sages taught: in the future all festivals will be nullified except for Chanukah and Purim (see Sefer HaChaim section Parnasah at the beginning of chapter 7; also see Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer chapter 46; Yerushalmi Taanit 2:13; Yotzer Lezachor**; additions to Torah Or on Megillat Esther and more). This relates to the special quality of "reflected light" as explained in many places.

May it be G‑d's will that this quality shine also in our generation—this orphaned generation at the end of Ikveta d'Meshicha—in an ever-increasing light from sunset until "night will shine like day" with the coming of a wondrous person speedily in our days.

With honor and with blessings for a luminous and radiant Chanukah.

Summary

The Rebbe writes about Chanukah's unique spiritual endurance among Jewish holidays and its mystical connection to Netzach and Hod. He prays that its increasing light should illuminate even our challenging times as we await redemption.