1 Kislev 5787
Rosh Chodesh Bet
The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 16b) states that the judgment of the fully righteous and the fully wicked is decided on Rosh Hashanah, while the rest of mankind is given till Yom Kippur to merit a good judgment. The Zohar (Vayechi 220a, Tzav 31b), however, extends the deadline till Hoshanah Rabbah, the last day of the holiday of Sukkot, stating that although the judgment is sealed on Yom Kippur, it is not “concluded” or delivered until then.The last day of Hanukkah is called Zot Hanukkah from the Torah verse read on this day, “Zot hanukat hamizbeach - this was the dedication of the altar.”Hassidic masters quote from Kabbalistic sources that God’s mercy extends even further, giving the Children of Israel till the final day of Hanukkah to return to God and receive a favorable judgment.They see several hints to this in different verses. One is Isaiah 27:9: “Through this (zot) will Jacob’s sin be forgiven” – i.e., on account of the holiness of Zot Hanukkah.1. Once the High Holidays conclude, the “ordinary” year begins. This is a time in which we can put into practice the resolutions we made during the days of judgment. Thus, God gives us additional time to show God our commitment and devotion – that this year really is better – and if we do so, to earn a better judgment. This initiation period of the year concludes with the end of Hanukkah.2. Some of us went through Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, a fall of daily life, and even the first seven days of Hanukkah hoping that something would change within us without us having to do much about it. But now it’s the last day of Hanukkah, and what has changed? This last day of Hanukkah is a chance to return again to God, but this time out of pure love. This time out of complete surrender to God’s compassion. This time turning to that place we have always known existed but never really wanted or needed to believe in. That place is the inner "light" that we can use to get thru the darkest part of the year.“Zot” means something is clear (as if you could point to it with your finger, and say: “THIS” is Hanukkah)….I kindle Hanukkah lights at night, when it’s dark and everything is wrong. There is no light. Suddenly, I light Hanukkah lights and it becomes clear to me that I have the greatest lights in the world: my Jewish soul, my Jewish family, my Jewish Nation and Land, and once (and in the future, again) my Jewish Temple” – (from “The Soul of Hanukkah”, Teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach)
Maybe this is why we keep experiencing delay after delay after delay. Perhaps it is the Heavenly response to our fervent prayers for redemption with rachamim. The seemingly endless delays are the answer to our prayers. But even the delays have their limit. The mercy does not eradicate the judgment. It won't be pushed off forever. It won't be pushed off past Zot Hanukkah!
(Zot Hanukkah falls out on December 12, 2026, Shabbat - Parashat Miketz, when Yosef HaTzaddik reveals himself to his brothers! Thirty-two days from today.)
