[Avodah] Chanukah Candles

[Richard Wolberg]

There's a very fascinating reason why some use the formula for the first Chanukah candle brocho: l'hadlik ner Chanukah (omitting the shel).
Chanukah candles are not to be used for any benefit other than for Chanukah and its significance.

In other words, on Shabbos the candles are lit so that we don't have to eat in the dark and we are able to see where we are going. Therefore, it is ner SHEL Shabbos, the candle for (of) Shabbos. Conversely, one is not to benefit at all from the light of the Chanukah candles. Hence, it is not a candle FOR (shel) Chanukah but rather is a Ner Chanukah, a 
Chanukah candle.
May your Chanukah Candles (not the Candles FOR Chanukah but the Chanukah Candles) be radiant and luminous.
And may their significance continue throughout the rest of the year.

ri