Ramban Surprises: Where Are Chanukah Candles Alluded to in the Torah?

The sages' teachings reveal to us fascinating hints that even events which occurred many years after the Torah was written are already hidden within it. One of the most striking hints is the connection between the lighting of the menorah in the Mishkan and the miracle of Chanukah, where the descendants of Aaron, the Hasmoneans, brought back the light of the Torah to the people of Israel, and to the Chanukah candles that burn even in the darkness of exile. The Ramban explains that Hashem's promise to Aaron, "Yours is greater than theirs," refers not only to his service in the Mishkan, but also to the future, to Chanukah, which will be remembered for generations as a central event in Jewish history, emphasizing the eternity of the divine light even in exile.

These are the words of the Ramban at the beginning of the portion Beha'alotcha:

"Why is the portion of the menorah placed next to the dedication of the princes? Because when Aaron saw the dedication of the princes, he felt discouraged that he was not part of the dedication, neither he nor his tribe; Hashem said to him: 'By your life, yours is greater than theirs, for you will light and prepare the candles morning and evening,' says Rashi from a Midrash.

"And it was not clear to me, why he was consoled with the lighting of the candles, and not consoled with the incense offering morning and evening, praised by the verse (Deuteronomy 33:10): 'They shall place incense before You,' and in all the sacrifices, and in the Mincha offering, and in the Yom Kippur service that is valid only by him, and enters the inner sanctuary, and he is holy, standing in His temple to serve and bless in His name, and his tribe as well are servants of our God

"But the matter of this Midrash, to derive a hint from the portion about the Chanukah of the candles that was in the Second Temple by Aaron and his sons, meaning the Hasmonean High Priest and his sons.

"And in such language I found it in the Secret Scroll of our teacher Nissim, who mentioned this Midrash and said: "I saw in the Midrash, once the twelve tribes offered and the tribe of Levi did not offer, etc., Hashem said to Moses, speak to Aaron and say to him, 'There is another dedication in which there is the lighting of the candles and I will do for Israel through your sons miracles and deliverance and a dedication called after them, which is the dedication of the sons of Hasmoneans,' and therefore this portion is next to the portion of the dedication of the altar," until here are his words.

"And I saw furthermore in 'Yelamdenu' (Tanchuma Beha’alotcha 5), and similarly in Bamidbar Rabbah 15:6: "Hashem said to Moses: Go tell Aaron 'Do not fear, for you are prepared for something greater than this, sacrifices are applicable only as long as the Temple stands, but the candles will always illuminate towards the face of the menorah - and all the blessings I've given you to bless the children of Israel will never be cancelled.'" Lo, it is known that when the Temple does not exist and sacrifices are cancelled due to its destruction, even the candles are cancelled, but they did not hint except at the candles of the Hasmoneans' Chanukah, which applies even after the destruction in our exile. Similarly, the priestly blessing placed next to the dedication of the princes applies forever, derived from the juxtaposition to the dedication of the princes before and after for the honor of Aaron who was not included with them.

In conclusion, the Ramban brings the words of the sages and Midrashim revealing the deep connection between the temple service during Aaron's time and the events of Chanukah that occurred thousands of years later. Hashem's promise to Aaron of future greatness is fulfilled movingly in the lighting of the candles by the Hasmoneans, expressing the victory of the Jewish spirit even in exile and destruction. Thus, we see how the proximity of the portions is not just a historical story, but a message for generations - about the eternity of faith, tradition, and the connection to the divine light.