VBM The Haftara of Shabbat Chanuka By Harav Mosheh Lichtenstein

Two Reasons for Reading Zekharya’s Vision Reading Zekharya's vision about the menora (Zekharya 2:14-4:7) as the haftara for Shabbat Chanuka is mandated by talmudic law (Megilla 31a). Establishing that vision as the haftara of Shabbat Chanukaeven when it coincides with Rosh Chodesh is, however, not self-evident, for the haftara that is ordinarily read on Rosh Chodesh is also mandated by talmudic law. The Talmud (Megilla 29b) deals with the confluence of Chanuka and Rosh Chodesh with respect to the Torah reading, but it does not relate to the issue of the haftara that must be read on such a day. It was only in the post-talmudic period that the halakhic authorities were asked to address this question, the Geonim and the Rishonim issuing rulings on the matter. The Geonim ruled that we read the haftara from Zekharya, without explaining the grounds for the custom,[1] whereas the Ashkenazi Rishonim had doubts about the matter, and some even suggested that the haftara for Rosh Chodesh be read in its place.[2] In the end, the position of those who advocated reading the haftara for Chanuka was accepted, with two main arguments presented as justification: