In the household of Reb David of Tolna, the lighting of the Chanuka menora was a major event. The menora itself was of gold, and altogether an intricate piece of artistic craftsmanship. His Chasidim would assemble in his house and the air was soon filled with beautiful melodies.
On the first night of Chanuka one year, when Reb David was ready to kindle the menora, he turned to one of his Chasidim and said, "You wife is short, isn't she? When you want to speak to her, what do you do? Do you bend over towards her, or does she raise herself up to your height?"
Without waiting for an answer, Reb David recited the blessings and kindled the menora. The Chasid was as baffled as everyone else present.
At the time, Reb David's great-nephew, Reb Mordechai Dov of Hornisteipl, was staying with Reb David. When he saw how puzzled the Chasidim were, he said: "I will explain to you what my saintly great-uncle said.
"As you know, the Talmud states, 'The Divine Presence has never descended lower than ten handbreadths (tefachim) from the ground.' An exception to this rule is the menora on Chanuka, whose place is ideally required to be less than ten handbreadths from the ground. The Divine Presence on this occasion does descend lower than ten. And in Kabalistic writings it is written that this is the mystical concept that lies at the root of the Talmudic dictum: 'If your wife is short, bend over and whisper to her.' This was what my uncle wanted to make mention of."
The next evening at the time of lighting the Chanuka menora, Reb David again made some puzzling comment to one of his Chasidim. Immediately afterward, though he had not been told of the previous night's explanation by his nephew, he turned to his nephew and said; "This time you will not perceive as you did yesterday!"
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