[Avodah] halacha and history

[Eli Turkel via Avodah]

An additional question

*Question:* When did the Chashmonaim win the war--on the 24th or the 25th
of Kislev--if on the 25th--should not we begin to light on the 26th?

*Answer: *There is a major dispute on this point.  The Meiri (Shabbos 21B)
writes that the victory occurred on the 24th, and the Neiros were lit on
the 25th.  The Pri Chadash brings that it is the opinion of the Rambam that
the victory occurred on the 25th, and that we begin lighting on the night
of the 25th (rather than on the night of the 26th after the victory)
because Chazal established the night of the 25th for future generations to
specifically remember the miracle of the victory in war which had occurred
on that day. The Har Tzvi (by HaRav Tzvi Pesach Frank, Zt’l) has a fuller
discussion of this disagreement in his Sefer on Chanukah, Chapter 2.  The
Har Tzvi actually brings one authority who used a new Menorah on the second
night so that he could make a *Shehechiyanu* on the second night, as
well--making a Shehechiyanu on the first night (the 25th) for the miracle
of the war, and the Shehechiyanu on the new Menorah on the second night
(the 26th)--to also include the miracle of the oil on that night. >>


Actually the war was won many years later. Furthermore it seems that they
entered Jerusalem earlier and waited until 25 Kislev to rededicate the
mikdash. The 25th was picked because thats when the Greeks entered the
Temple and also when Chaggai dedicated the second Temple.

-- 
Eli Turkel
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