Countdown To Chanukah 27 – A Good Eye
Countdown to Chanukah 27 – A Good Eye
I find it fascinating that although we so honor the miracle of the Menorah oil of the Chanukah story, there is a natural miracle that parallels the oil described in a verse: “The generous man is blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor (Proverbs 22:9 – sefaria.org).” The Hebrew actually says, “Tov Ayin,” a person with a good eye. The Ibn Ezra explains that someone who looks at his guests with a good eye, willing to share all his food, will have all his blessings increased by God.
We actually are familiar with people who can make a lot from just a little, people who don’t have much and yet always have what to share with others. We are familiar with the miracle of the oil, at least, in other forms.
We meet people who seem to always have time to share, time to listen. They apply the miracle of the oil to the way they use time.
There are people who seem to always be able to fit one added guest – miracle of the oil.
Friends who always find a way to help.
Family members who regularly find a few extra dollars to help out.
We live with multiple forms of the miracle of the oil.
Rav Eliyashiv zt”l wondered why we so focus on a Menorah that burned when the Beit Hamikdash – the Temple in Jerusalem was regularly filled with far more spectacular miracles.
Rav Eliyashiv explained that when we lived as a community on the highest levels of sanctity, we could expect the miraculous. However, when we lost our access to our Beit Hamikdash because we were undeserving, and just a few brave souls were willing to undertake the great battles of the Chanukah story, Hashem gave us the Miracle of the Oil to teach us that we need only a few people of “Tov Ayin,” able to see beyond the limitations seen by all others to merit the miraculous in our lives.
We can use these days and weeks before Chanukah to focus our efforts on Looking at the world, at others, at the opportunities with which we are regularly blessed with “Tov Ayin,” Unlimited Vision leading to Infinite Blessings.