“Our Sages taught:1 The mitzvah of kindling the Chanukah light:…תָּנוּ רַבָּנָן מִצְוַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה כוּ'
The School of Shammai maintain: On the first day, one should kindle eight lights.בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן מַדְלִיק שְׁמוֹנָה
From that day onward, he should progressively reduce the number of lights.מִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ פּוֹחֵת וְהוֹלֵךְ,
The School of Hillel maintain: On the first day, one should kindle one.וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים: יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן מַדְלִיק אַחַת
From that day onward, he should progressively increase the number of lights.מִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ מוֹסִיף וְהוֹלֵךְ,
The rationale for the position of the School of Shammai is that they draw a parallel to the bulls brought as sacrifices during the Sukkos holiday.טַעֲמָא דְּבֵית שַׁמַּאי כְּנֶגֶד פָּרֵי הֶחָג,
On the first day of Sukkos, thirteen bulls were brought as sacrifices. On each of the subsequent days, one less bull was brought. So too, the School of Shammai maintain that on Chanukah, one should begin by kindling eight lights and progressively decrease the number of lights kindled.
The rationale for the position of the School of Hillel is that one always increase in matters of holiness.”וְטַעֲמָא דְּבֵית הִלֵּל דְּמַעֲלִין בַּקֹּדֶשׁ כוּ'.
The Alter Rebbe2 raises a well-known question:וְיָדוּעַ דִּיּוּק כ"ק אַדְמוֹ"ר הַזָּקֵן,
Why is a parallel drawn between the Chanukah lights and the bulls brought as sacrifices on Sukkos? What is the thematic connection between the two?מָה עִנְיַן נֵר חֲנֻכָּה לְפָרֵי הֶחָג.
In particular, this question applies according to the statements of the Tzemach Tzedek3 who notes thatוּבִפְרָט לְפִי מַה שֶּׁכָּתַב כ"ק אַדְמוֹ"ר הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק,
the School of Hillel differ with the School of Shammai only because of the importance of increasing in matters of holiness. They, too, accept the parallel to the bulls brought on the Sukkos holiday. Thus, the above question applies not only according to the School of Shammai – whose opinion is not accepted as halachah – but also to the School of Hillel.שֶׁגַּם בֵּית הִלֵּל לֹא פְּלִיגֵי רַק מִשּׁוּם דְּמַעֲלִין בַּקֹּדֶשׁ.
In several sources,4 it is explained that the parallel between Chanukah and Sukkos is drawn because they are both eight-day holidays. This is not a mere numerical coincidence. Instead, they share an inner spiritual connection:וּמַה שֶׁמְּבֹאָר בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁהַשַּׁיָּכוּת דַּחֲנֻכָּה לְסֻכּוֹת הִיא שֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶם הֵם שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים,
The number eight reflects a level above the structure of the Spiritual Cosmos.5 The Spiritual Cosmos, Seder Hishtalshelus, is structured in series of seven, paralleling the seven emotive attributes of Atzilus. Eight refers to a transcendent light, an or makkif, that stands above the patterns that define that structure.דְּמִסְפַּר שְׁמוֹנֶה מוֹרֶה עַל בְּחִינָה שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מֵהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת,
But this itself requires explanation:הֲרֵי זֶה גּוּפָא צָרִיךְ בֵּאוּר,
What is the connection between Sukkos and Chanukah with the aspect of Divine light that transcends the structure of the Spiritual Cosmosמַהוּ הַקֶּשֶׁר דְּסֻכּוֹת וַחֲנֻכָּה לַבְּחִינָה שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מֵהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת,
which results in them encompassing eight days?שֶׁמִּצַּד זֶה הֵם שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים.
It is not that because Sukkos and Chanukah are eight-day holidays, we presume that they relate to this transcendent Divine light. Rather, it is because they reflect this transcendent light that they are eight-day holidays. It is necessary to understand the inner connection these holidays share with this level of light.
Also, another related question is raised:וְגַם,
The kindling of the Chanukah lights was ordained in commemoration of the miracle that transpired with regard to the lamps of the Menorah in the Beis HaMikdash.הֲרֵי זֶה שֶׁתִּקְּנוּ נֵרוֹת חֲנֻכָּה הוּא מִפְּנֵי הַנֵּס שֶׁהָיָה בְּנֵרוֹת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ,
Since there were only seven lamps in the Menorah of the Beis HaMikdash,וּמִכֵּיוָן שֶׁבַּמִּקְדָּשׁ הָיוּ ז' נֵרוֹת,
why is the Chanukah miracle commemorated by kindling eight lights (and celebrating for eight days)?6מַדּוּעַ בַּחֲנֻכָּה יֵשׁ שְׁמוֹנָה נֵרוֹת (וְיָמִים).
True, the Chanukah miracle was that the Menorah remained burning for eight days, but that also requires explanation: Why was it that the miracle encompassed eight days?
Another point requires explanation:וְגַם צָרִיךְ לְהָבִין
Why does the School of Shammai draw the comparison (not to the Sukkos holiday as a whole, but) specifically to the bulls offered on that holiday?מַה שֶׁהַפֶערְגְלַיְיךְ (הַהַשְׁוָאָה) דְּנֵרוֹת חֲנֻכָּה הוּא (לֹא לְחַג הַסֻּכּוֹת בִּכְלָל, אֶלָּא) לְפָרֵי הֶחָג דַּוְקָא,
On the surface, the kindling of the Chanukah lights relates to the Menorahדְּלִכְאוֹרָה, הֲרֵי נֵרוֹת חֲנֻכָּה שַׁיָּכִים לְהַמְּנוֹרָה
(for the Chanukah lights commemorate the miracle that transpired with the lamps of the Menorah).(נֵרוֹת חֲנֻכָּה הֵם מִפְּנֵי הַנֵּס שֶׁהָיָה בְּנֵרוֹת הַמְּנוֹרָה),
The bulls offered on Sukkos were offered (like all the sacrifices) on the outer altar.וּפָרֵי הֶחָג הִקְרִיבוּ (כְּכָל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת) עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ,
The Menorah and the altar were two different sacramental vessels.וַהֲרֵי מְנוֹרָה וּמִזְבֵּחַ הֵם שְׁנֵי כֵּלִים שׁוֹנִים
Moreover, the place where these vessels were located in the Beis HaMikdash points to the difference between them. The (outer) altar (on which the sacrifices were offered) was positioned before the Entrance Hall to the Sanctuary (i.e., outside the Sanctuary itself). The Menorah, by contrast, was located inside the Sanctuary.7
[In particular, this is true according to the explanations regarding these vessels given by Kabbalah and Chassidus.]8[וּבִפְרָט לְפִי הַמְּבֹאָר בְּקַבָּלָה וּבַחֲסִידוּת],
And the kindling of the lamps of the Menorah and the offering of the sacrifices are two different types of service.וְנֵרוֹת וְקָרְבָּנוֹת עֲבוֹדוֹת שׁוֹנוֹת,
The offering of the sacrifices is intended primarily to refine the sparks of G‑dliness contained in the material substance of the world.9 In contrast, the purpose of kindling the Menorah is primarily to shine forth G‑dly light within the world.10
Indeed, when Aharon felt sorrow at not having been included in the offering of the sacrifices to dedicate the Altar of the Sanctuary,11 G‑d assured him: “Your Divine service, (kindling the lamps of the Menorah,) is greater than theirs (bringing the sacrifices).”וְעַד שֶׁ"שֶּׁלְּךָ (נֵרוֹת) גְּדוֹלָה מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם" (קָרְבָּנוֹת) כוּ'
And he was promised that the kindling of the lamps of the Menorah “would never be nullified.”"אֵינָן בְּטֵלִין לְעוֹלָם".
A further point that requires explanation:וְגַם צָרִיךְ לְהָבִין
The mitzvah to kindle (the Chanukah lights) begins after sunset.מַה שֶּׁמִּצְוָתָהּ (שֶׁל נֵר חֲנֻכָּה) הִיא מִשֶּׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה,
As is well known, this requires clarification,12דְּיָדוּעַ הַדִּיּוּק בָּזֶה,
for the lamps of the Menorah in the Beis HaMikdash were kindled at p’lag haminchah, one and one fourth hours before sunset.13דְּנֵרוֹת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הִדְלִיקוּ מִפְּלַג הַמִּנְחָה, שָׁעָה וּרְבִיעַ קֹדֶם הַשְּׁקִיעָה,
(As explained above) the Chanukah lights commemorate the miracle that transpired concerning the lamps of the Menorah in the Beis HaMikdash.וְכֵיוָן שֶׁנֵּרוֹת חֲנֻכָּה הֵם (כַּנַּ"ל) מִפְּנֵי הַנֵּס שֶׁהָיָה בְּנֵרוֹת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
[And in particular, there is a general principle: Every practice ordained by the Sages was ordained in a manner that reflects a Scriptural commandment.]14[וּבִפְרָט שֶׁכָּל דְּתִקּוּן רַבָּנָן כְּעֵין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא תִּקּוּן],
As such, seemingly, it would have been appropriate that the time for kindling the Chanukah lights be the same as the time for kindling the lamps in the Beis HaMikdash.הָיָה רָאוּי לִכְאוֹרָה שֶׁתִּהְיֶה זְמַן הַדְלָקָתָם כְּנֵרוֹת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ,
Why then does the mitzvah to kindle Chanukah lights specifically begin after sunset?וְלָמָּה מִצְוָתָהּ הִיא דַּוְקָא מִשֶּׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה.

Summary

The maamar begins by questioning the comparison drawn by the School of Shammai between kindling the Chanukah lights and the bulls offered during the Sukkos holiday. On the surface, the source for the comparison is that both Sukkos and Chanukah are eight-day holidays and the number eight reflects a level that transcends the Spiritual Cosmos. Nevertheless, it is necessary to explain the thematic connection between these holidays and this transcendent light.
The connection with the number eight raises another question, for the kindling of the Chanukah lights commemorates the miracle that transpired with the Menorah in the Beis HaMikdash, and that Menorah included only seven lamps.
Also, the comparison between the Chanukah lights and the bulls of Sukkos raises another question because the kindling of the Menorah and the offering of the sacrifices were two distinct types of worship. Moreover, the Menorah in the Beis HaMikdash was lit before sunset, while we light the Chanukah menorah specifically after sunset.