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Hallel: Rosh Chodesh Kislev IV



“What can I respond to God
for all the good He has given to make me independent?” – The most important message of the Miracle of the Oil was that it was God’s acknowledgement of our efforts to act as if we, who had an insignificant army, a tiny jar of oil, were willing to fight as if we were a well-equipped power with sufficient oil for eight days. The Chanukah miracle of the Oil was a celebration of our independent efforts; we did not wait for God to save us. We sing with joy over God’s promise to always nurture our independent development and to feel that we have earned His Good.

“I will lift up the cup of salvation
and I will call out in God’s Name.
I will fulfill my promises to God in front of all His nation.”

The Chashmonaim’s willingness to immediately rededicate the Beit Hamikdash, despite the army based in Antonia, just nearby, was their raising of the cup of salvation, a “L’Chaim to God,” to honor what He had done for them.

We sing this paragraph as our L’Chaim to God for nurturing our independence and allowing us to succeed in our fundamental mission to master ourselves to attach to Him.

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