Mehadrin vs Hiddur Mitzvah: Chanukah's Victory Over Greek Aesthetics

This shiur examines a fundamental question about the mitzvah (מצוה) of lighting Chanukah (חנוכה) candles and the concept of beautifying mitzvos. The basic obligation requires only eight candles total - one each night throughout Chanukah. The mehadrin level requires one candle per person in the household each night, while mehadrin min hamehadrin adds candles progressively from one on the first night to eight on the last night per person. Rabbeinu Chananel in his commentary on Masechta Shabbos (שבת) explains that the term 'mehadrin' refers to those who beautify mitzvos, citing the principle from Bava Kamma that hiddur mitzvah (beautifying a mitzvah) typically requires adding only one-third to the basic cost. For example, if a kosher esrog costs ten dollars, one need only spend up to fifteen dollars for a nicer one to fulfill hiddur mitzvah.