As we are in the days of Hanukkah, it is appropriate to mention some teachings regarding this unique holiday. First, it is important to consider that, beyond the story of Hanukkah itself, of the sacrifice of the Kohanim (priests) of that time to defend the values of Judaism, there are teachings that our sages hinted at in the various passages in the Torah where the themes of this holiday are discussed.
Un ejemplo de esto es una halajá (ley judía) sobre las leyes de Jánuca. Dice el Talmud (Shabat 21b, citado en Shulján Aruj Oraj Jaim 672:1): «[El horario de encendido de las velas de Jánuca es] desde la puesta del sol hasta que no haya gente por las calles», ya que si no hay gente en las calles, nadie podrá ver la Menorá para recordar el milagro ocurrido al pueblo judío en aquellos días.
Now, this seems like a simple law, but, as we shall see, there is an incredible lesson hidden in the words of our sages. In the original Hebrew, the text says ad sheTijle reguel min haShuk (until the legs of the marketplace run out (lit.)).
To understand the teaching, we must analyze each word separately and then put them back together.
ad: until.
sheTijle: significa «que se acabe», pero puede entenderse como «que anhele» y «que desee».
reguel: significa «pierna», pero, en su nuevo contexto, vamos a entenderlo como el último nivel del pueblo judío. El pueblo judío entero es como si fuese un cuerpo con sus diferentes miembros, y cada alma corresponde a un miembro en particular, como ser el brazo derecho, o la pierna izquierda. Naturalmente, el pie es el miembro más bajo del hombre, por lo que reguel simboliza al judío desconectado, por así decir, del judaísmo, aquel que no participa de una comunidad, aquel que ni siquiera se identifica a sí mismo con su judaísmo.
min: del.
HaShuk: literally means the marketplace, but here it symbolizes that which lies outside the realm of the Torah. Just as all kinds of goods can be found in the marketplace, in the same way, whoever is outside the context of holiness and purity that the Torah offers is under constant danger of being influenced by negative things contrary to Judaism.
Putting our halakha together again, we see that our sages are giving us a very profound message about Hanukkah: Until what time should the Hanukkah candles be lit? Or, to put it another way, until when should I shine a light, illuminate another person's life? Until that person, who is at a low level of connection with God (reguel), yearns (sheTichle) to rise from their worldliness (haShuk) and reintegrate into Judaism.