Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more in the right than I…” (Bereishis 38:26)

We are familiar with the disagreement between Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel regarding how to properly light Chanukah candles (eight down to one, or one up to eight). I would like to share a personal feeling that I have about the subject. I look around and see all the beautiful menorahs, each one testifying to our belief in Hashem and His ability to perform miracles; not only back then, but even today, too. Yet, when I see the menorahs fully ablaze on the eighth night, I am moved to a greater degree as to what they represent. While it is true that we work on ourselves each day of Chanukah to drive this lesson home, just seeing all those candles lit makes a much greater impression.

It is safe to assume that there are not more people lighting on the eighth night, so why am I more moved when I see a greater number of candles lit? I think the answer is obvious: What we see greatly affects us.

Rav Elya Lopian points out an amazing thing in this week’s parsha. Tamar is accused of a sin; Yehuda sits on the Beis Din, and in front of all owns up and says, “She is more righteous than I.” Imagine the embarrassment that Yehuda felt at that time. Yitzchak and Yaakov were also there on the Beis Din (See Medrash Tanchuma). This is the quality of a true leader: To admit a mistake in public, especially in front of his father and grandfather, the Gedolei Hador.

The Gemora tells us that Moshe prayed for Yehuda’s bones to stop rattling. Yehuda merited this salvation because of the fact that Reuven owned up to his own sin by taking a cue from Yehuda. The question is asked: The Gemara says that Reuven repented alone. Tosafos answers that when Reuven repented and admitted his mistake, he did it in private; however, after seeing that Yehuda admitted his mistake in public, Reuven also repented in public.

Reb Elya explains that one would have thought that the merit of Yehuda owning up was far greater than the merit of having Reuven learn his lesson from Yehuda. And yet, Chazal tell us that Yehuda’s ripple effect, which affected Reuven, is what saved Yehuda as opposed to the initial noble act of Yehuda. From this we learn the idea of how important it is to do mitzvos in full public view.

In my home, every night when I light my menorah, there is a beautiful sequence of events. The same neighbors every evening, at exactly the same time, “fire off” their lights: First my neighbor across the hall; then the neighbor across the street three flights up; then myself; and then another neighbor. Seeing each other doing the mitzvah together (though each of us at our exact own time) reinforces us and our mitzvah observance.

I have been asked many times about the Mishneh Berureh, which questions whether pirsumei nisa is accomplished by a Gentile seeing the candles. That means that it is clear that the classic pirsumei nisa is for our fellow Jew. But why do I need to express it to them? They themselves are lighting!? It seems to me that the answer lies in this idea from Reb Elya: It is not only what you know and what you do, but it is what you see around you that really affects you.

The custom in my yeshiva in Scranton was that during Mincha we said a “heicha Kedusha” (a shemoneh esrei that is started loudly – “heicha” – and does not include the full repetition) every day except Chanukah and Purim. I asked the Rosh Yeshiva what is the reason for these exceptions? He smiled and said, “pirsumei nisa!” Obviously, all the students in the yeshiva lit candles on Chanukah; they were all familiar with the story of Purim; yet pirsumei nisa is sought after whenever we can do it, even when at other times it would be called unnecessary. This is not only true on Chanukah and Purim when we are commanded to do so, but all year round we should realize the power of doing positive activities in public.

I would like to suggest that this Chanukah, when we say Hallel in shul and we thank Hashem publicly with the tzibur for the miracle that happened, we not only do it with “kavana”, but also with the understanding that what we are doing will increase the impact of the pirsumei nisa for those around us as well. Hopefully, through doing this, our kindling of our small Chanukah candles will bring back the real kindling of the menorah in the Holy Temple.