Happy Hanukkah to all,

Hanukkah is a unique window of light in the year, a time when the Ohr HaGanuz—the concealed light from the days of Creation—becomes accessible to us once again. On the DailyZohar.com Home page, under the “Holidays” column, you will find many in-depth studies devoted to Hanukkah. The more we engage in learning and contemplation during these days, the more we expand our spiritual vessels and draw this hidden light into our lives and into the world. This is a light that illuminates darkness from its root and awakens the soul beyond intellect.

Recently, I was privileged to study a new meditation revealed by the Yenuka (see below). He shared a beautiful and profound teaching:

He revealed that the blessing of lighting the candles “להדליק נר חנוכה” connects us to the holy name of Keter אהיה אשר. It comes from the first time Hashem revealed himself to Moses during the ‘Burning Bush’ event (Exodus 3:14 ) “אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה” “I AM WHO I AM.”

The most significant candle is the candle of the day, the one that we light first. We set/prepare the candles from right to left and light them from left to right, so the first candle lit is the candle of the day. It is the one that connects us to the Ohr Haganuz, and the rest of the candles receive from him. To fulfill the connection, it is enough to light one candle a day, but to expand and elevate the vessel, we fill the place of the candles we lit in the days before.
After we light the candles, we look at the day’s candle flame, scan the name אהיה אשר, and pray to bring miracles, peace, and Mashiach to the world. When we pray for all, we become a great channel for the great light, and it will illuminate the ‘dark’ aspects of our lives, meaning we fulfill any lack we may have. Remember that Ohr HaGanuz is the light that was used to create the whole world, and Hashem concealed it from the world to come. Hanukkah is a rare opportunity to connect to it, and it would be better not to ‘waste’ it on selfish requests. The miracles, as the Yenuka, Rabbi Shlomo Yehuda Shlita explains, come from a point of humility. The oil that they found in the Holy Temple was barely good for one day, and the miracle was that it ‘expanded’ to eight days. We nullify ourselves when we look at the flame and the holy name. This creates an aspect of an empty, pure vessel, fit to receive the higher light.

Any oil can be good, but olive oil is best because it produces a pure flame. Vax candles are good too. The most important thing is to have a clear and beautiful flame.

The Yenuka gives us advice on how to connect to the Ohr Haganuz.
אור הגנוז = 278 = Ohr Haganuz
כבוד + צלם+ אלהים=278 = Honor+ Image + God

When we read the image of God without the word ‘honor’, ‘כבוד’, we find that the phrase ‘plague in the world’ also yields 278. As we know, there are always two sides, like ‘Snake’ and ‘Mashiach’, that have the same numerical value.
He explains that each of us was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). When we look at another person, we should see or keep in mind that the image of God surrounds him. If we give honor to that, we connect to the root of creation and the Light that existed when God created us.

Another revelation is that Ohr Haganuz + ‘God’ numerically = ‘Corona’. Also, ‘Ohr Haganuz’ and ‘Hanukkah’ equal ‘Corona’. Covid 19 = 25 of Kislev that is the first day of Hanukkah. We see a strong connection between the plague that affected most of the world and Hanukkah.

About the Yenuka

Rav Shlomo Yehuda Be’eri
הרב שלמה יהודה בארי

He is widely known as “The Yenuka”—not because of age alone, but because of the astonishing depth and breadth of his Torah knowledge revealed at such a young stage of life. He possesses an extraordinary command of Torah, Talmud and its commentaries, the Zohar and its commentaries, the writings of the Ari and his students, and many other sacred works. During his lectures, he often cites sources precisely, by page and paragraph, with clarity and humility.

Beyond his knowledge, what stands out most is his deep humility and purity, qualities that draw many great rabbis and scholars in Israel to attend his teachings. I feel genuine joy in writing about him, as I see his presence in this world as a gift and a miracle from Hashem—a sign that we may be approaching a time when a greater light will be revealed in the world.

It is also noteworthy that the initials of his name spell שבי, echoing the names of towering Tzadikim throughout our tradition, such as Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Rabbi Yitzchak ben Shlomo Luria (the Holy Ari), and Rabbi Shalom ben Yitzchak (the Rashash). Such connections hint to a lineage of light and continuity in the inner wisdom of Torah.

May we merit, during these days of Hanukkah, to reveal the Ohr HaGanuz within ourselves, and may its light bring healing, clarity, and redemption to us all.

Chag Hanukkah Sameach,
Zion