THE WALLS HAVE EARS

One winter, Yankle Baier and his family were vacationing in the state of Vermont for a few days. They stayed at a motel on the first floor. Since it was Chanukah, they brought a Menorah along. After a full day of sightseeing, they arrived back at the motel. Yankle opened the curtains to light the menorah by the window as he does every year, to proclaim the miracle to others (pirsumé nisa). His wife Frayda, however, told him to close the curtains, as they hadn't asked permission and someone outside might tell the front desk and tell on them to put it out, being a fire hazard. Frayda told Yankle that it’s perfectly all right to light just for their family. Yankle knew she was right, and listened to her, but was disappointed he couldn't  put it in the window.  Closing the curtains, Yankle put the menorah on the dining room table and lit it.  The next morning, he was in the motel lobby when a man approached him to wish him a happy Chanukah. The man took Yankle's hand and began shaking it repeatedly while  thanking him over and over for what he had done for him. Yankle had never met the man before and had no idea what he was talking about, so Yankle asked him to explain. The man told Yankle that the previous evening when he was in his motel room, he suddenly heard the words to the Chanukah blessings being chanted in Hebrew. He had completely forgotten that it was Chanukkah! The man went out to a hardware store, bought a candle, and lit it in his room. He was thanking Yankle for reminding him it was Chanukkah! 

 

Yankle thought of Avraham Avinu and the three Malachim (angels) who came to visit him. Avraham wanted to fulfill the mitzvah of Hachanas Orchim (inviting guests) so much, that Hashem finally decided to send him some. Here too, Hashem saw Yankles disappointment and enabled him to fulfill  pirsumé nisa the optimum way, showing him His great love for every Jew.

An important lesson was learned that day. Pirsumé nisa does not necessarily have to come about through others seeing the miracle. If Hashem wants, He can cause it to come about through others "hearing" of the miracle! That Chanukah, Yankle understood the expression "the walls have ears" in a "new" light!