Day 7/8: Other Attempts To Sabotage Hanukkah

Day 1/8: Boris The Terrible Infiltrates Ohr Somayach

Day 2/8: Boris Is Inspired By the Greeks And Fixes The Dreidels

Day 3/8: The Latke-tostraphe Of Intermittent Fasting

Day 4/8: Boris Hellenizes The Chocolate Coins

Day 5/8: Boris Tries To Be A Feminist

Day 6/8: The Power Of Local Government

Day 7/8: Other Attempts To Sabotage Hanukkah

In Ohr Somayach, Boris had learned that it was forbidden¹ to get any benefit from the light of the menorah, just like in the Temple. One year, Boris "accidentally" caused an electric blackout during the next candle lighting. It turned out that there was a foresighted Jewish tradition² to put an extra candle on their menorahs to ensure that they wouldn't accidentally be using the holy lights. They called it a *shamash”.

Image: the shamash takes a selfie

One year, he even decided to put a holiday tree in his store, although Boris himself was an atheist. He was hoping it would make the Jews feel uncomfortable. No one complained. In fact, they thanked him for the stark reminder that they were in exile, which had made their Hanukkah even more meaningful.

🕎🕎🕎🕎🕎🕎🕎

1. https://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/1304

It is forbidden to derive benefit from the light of the Menorah just as it was forbidden to derive benefit from the Menorah in the Temple, and also in order to show that its purpose of the Menorah is for a Mitzvah, not just for illumination.

Ohr Somayach Institutions www.ohr.edu

2. https://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/1304

It is customary to have an additional candle (the shamash) with which to light the other candles and in order to use its light. The shamash should be placed in a way that shows that it is not one of the Chanukah candles.

Ohr Somayach Institutions www.ohr.edu