This article is partially adapted from Sefer Iyunim B’Parsha
Chanukah is celebrated in many ways. Many go above and beyond the one candle per household minimum requirement. Why is this so? Many people don’t follow the highest level of Mehadrin for every Mitzvah (for example, many order a Lulav and Etrog from a store without checking it first, which is completely acceptable), so why is it so common to follow the Mehadrin Min HaMehadrin opinion, each person lighting additional candles every night, and use fancy menorahs with expensive olive oil?
Furthermore, one is not supposed to spend more than ⅕ of his earnings on a Mitzvat Aseih, yet by Chanukah, Rambam says a poor man is supposed to sell the shirt off his back to buy oil and candles. Also, for Hiddur Mitzvah, one is only obligated to add ⅓ of the value of the original object, yet we add much more than ⅓ of the one candle minimum. Why do we go so above and beyond by Chanukah?
The answer to this question can be found in the essence of Chanukah. When the Maccabees won the war, they did not need to perform a Chanukat HaBayit, sanctification and purification of the temple mount. There is a Halachah that Tum’ah is either Hutra (entirely permitted and no prohibition exists) or Dechuya (the prohibition is overridden, but one should try and get around the prohibition) BeTzibbur (see Pesachim 77a). Even if one takes the more stringent approach, Dechuya, the Maccabees would still be able to use the Tamei oil had they not found any Tahor oil. The entire miracle was one of excessiveness.
The Maccabees weren’t fighting for physical survival; after all, the Greeks wanted them alive and to be a part of the Greek kingdom. Rather, the Maccabees were fighting for spiritual endurance. After being victorious, the Maccabees needed to refresh the spiritual flame within Klal Yisrael. Even if the Maccabees did not need to do anything from a Halachic perspective, they acted for the needs of the generation. After sacrificing everything they had to preserve the sanctity of Klal Yisrael, it would be unfathomable for the Maccabees to rely on the lowest Halachic standards. Bnei Yisrael needed to show that they were starting again on the highest rung of Avodat Hashem.
This point can be further drawn out when analyzing Matityahu. Some say that Matityahu was the son of Yochanan Kohen Gadol. The Gemara (Brachot 29a) teaches that Yochanan Kohen Gadol became a heretic after eighty righteous years. Matityahu understood that a Jew must be very careful in his every action to maintain his and his descendants' religious survival. After winning a war of spirituality, Matityahu could not have taught us a better lesson.
The essence of Chanukah is sacrificing for sanctity. The Maccabees gave everything they had to establish Kedushah. Although we may not be able to wage a war of Kedushah, we can spend more time infusing Kedushah into the precious Mitzvot that we perform. When lighting the Menorah this year, we should all try and recognize the Kedushah that goes into lighting the Menorah, and hopefully, we will be able to see the Kedushah that emanates from the shining lights.