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Laws of Chanukah
1. Whole Hallel is recited all eight days of Chanukah during the morning prayers. We also read from the Torah every day of Chanukah. The section read is from Chumash Bamidbar chapter 7. It discusses the dedication of the Altar in the Tabernacle. This section is read because the Tabernacle was completed on the 25th of Kislev. Two Torah scrolls are taken out on the Shabbos during Chanukah. The weekly Torah portion is read from the first Scroll, and a special Maftir for Chanukah is read from the second Scroll.
2. Tachanun and La-Menatze'ach are not recited on Chanukah. Some people recite Chapter 30 of Tehillim, Mizmor Shir Chanukas Habayis L'Dovid, as the hymn of the day (Shir Shel Yom). This is the psalm that King David composed in honor of the Holy Temple's dedication.
(Shaarei Halachah)
A Torah Thought for Today
On Chanukah we spin the dreidle by holding the post on top of the dreidle. On Purim, we hold the gragger (the noisemaker) by the handle that is beneath it. The two ways of holding exemplifies the two types of salvation HaShem brings to the Jewish people.
On Chanukah we spin the top part of the dreidle, showing that salvation came "from Above" , as stirred by HaShem's compassion. But on Purim the gragger is held from below, an indication of how HaShem's mercy was aroused "from below". In the merit of the Jewish people on earth.
(Bnei Yissoschor)
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