The Talmud[1] mentions two opposing views
regarding which side of the doorway to light the Chanukah candles. The Sfas Emes explains this debate. He notes the pasuk in Mishlei (3:16),
“אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָה
בִּשְׂמֹאולָה עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד/Length of days is in its right hand; in
its left hand are riches and honor.”
Right and left are common analogies for the principle aspect of
something vs. a related aspect of secondary importance. Consequently, Chazal[2] teach us that the first part
of this pasuk refers to the next world while the second part of the pasuk refers to
this world. This world is a tool for us
to reach the next world. This world is
subordinate to the next world.
“Left” also suggests pushing away. Chazal[3] teach us regarding the
relationship between a teacher and student or a mother and child that one
should use the left hand to push away and the right to bring close. If pushing away is called for, it should be
done with the weaker hand. Bringing
close should be done with the stronger hand.
This world was created primarily to give us the opportunity to push away
and subordinate the transient in favor of the holy.
Since the right represents strength and permanence, we place
the mezuzah on the right side of the doorway.
This also explains the view that we light Chanukah candles on the right
side of the doorway. However, the
halachah follows the other view of lighting on the left side of the
entrance. Why? In order to understand this we must
understand the main point of the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles. The principle spiritual effect of this
mitzvah is to displace spiritual darkness with spiritual enlightenment. This was the effect of the original miracle
and continues to be the effect of the mitzvah each year. The left side represents spiritual darkness. This is why we light specifically on the left
side. It is there that the spiritual
power of this mitzvah is needed and is effective. It is specifically in the spiritual darkness
represented by the left side that there is room for us to rectify the world and
ourselves.
Rashi explains the redundancy in the pasuk, “יְמִינְךָ ה' נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ יְמִינְךָ
ה' תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב/Your right hand, God, is most powerful;
Your right hand, God, crushes the foe.” (Shmos 15:6) Rashi says that when revenge is taken against
the wicked even the “left” becomes the “right.”
The significance of the “left” becoming the “right” is spiritual light
vs. spiritual darkness. Adding to God’s
honor and glory is symbolized by the “right.”
Lighting Chanukah candles on the left side of the doorway represents
bringing spiritual light to the left side thereby turning it into the “right
side.”
There is an obvious connection between the first half of the
pasuk in Mishlei and the mitzvah of mezuzah.
The mezuzah is attached to the right doorpost and the pasuk in Mishlei
states, “אֹרֶךְ יָמִים
בִּימִינָה .../Length of days is in its right hand …” Regarding the mitzvah of mezuzah the Torah
states, “לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ
יְמֵיכֶם ... /In order to lengthen your days …” (Devarim 11:21) The mitzvah of mezuzah lengthens our days and
is therefore on the right side which is also associated with a long life. However, why does the pasuk in Mishlei
associate the left side with riches and honor?
In order to answer this question we first need to understand
what wealth means. Chazal[4] teach us that a wealthy person
is one who is happy with his lot. The
Maharal[5] explains that the mishnah is
giving us a definition of a wealthy person.
A definition must relate only to the person and not to any external
cause. An external effect cannot be
considered a integral definition. This
is why the mishnah does not say that a wealthy person is someone with lots of
money. Having lots of money, in and of
itself, does not automatically define a person as rich. He could have been born into a family with
lots of money. He could have won a
lottery ticket. In either case, the fact that he has a lot of
money does not define him. It is an external effect which comes and goes. Only that which comes from within us - our
outlook and actions - can define us. The mishnah teaches us that this outlook
is our attitude towards our assets.
This is why the mishnah brings as a proof the pasuk, “יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל
אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ/If you eat the toil of your hands, you are
praiseworthy, and it is good for you.” (Tehillim 128:2) A person can be defined as wealthy if he eats from
the labor of his own hands. A person who
was born into wealth is not necessarily a wealthy person. This is God given money. God gives each of us exactly what we
need. Wealth is that which we have that
is beyond our needs.
The Sfas Emes explains that this definition of wealth refers
not only to money. It applies to every
aspect of our lives. Every action that
replaces spiritual darkness with spiritual light, every action that turns the
“left” into the “right”, every action whose result is a rectification, adds to
our “wealth and honor.” This is why the
end of the pasuk in Mishlei associates the left with riches and honor. The riches and honor are the result of our
actions, not what God gives us unconditionally.
May we all merit, through our actions, especially the mitzvah
of lighting Chanukah lights to supplant darkness with light, to turn the “left”
into the “right.”
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