Hanukkah and ‘The Little Prince’

The Talmud teaches us that we are not permitted to use the light of Hanukkah candles for mundane purposes, such as counting money (Tractate Shabbat 22a). The children’s classic The Little Prince offers a poignant perspective on the deeper meaning of this halacha.

In the book, the most despicable character is a businessman who obsessively counts stars, imagining that they will one day be his. “Why do you want to own the stars?” the little prince asks him. “To be rich!” replies the businessman. “And why do you want to be rich?” “So I can buy more stars!” the businessman exclaims. (Page 41)

This satire highlights how people often view money not as a means to an end, but as an end in itself. In contrast, the next chapter introduces the most beloved character in the book: the lamplighter. The lamplighter lives on a planet where each day lasts only one minute. Despite the immense challenge, he remains committed to lighting his lamp every evening. His dedication and selflessness stand in stark contrast to the businessman’s empty pursuits.

Now, let us return to the Talmud. Someone who uses the light of Hanukkah candles to count money mirrors the businessman’s mindset, confusing the means—money—with the end—the light.

This theme calls to mind two billboards I once saw in Manhattan. One featured a father playing with his child, accompanied by the slogan, “Half the money, double the time.” The other asked, “Why live on the fast track when there’s no one to hug you at the other side?” Both messages serve as reminders to prioritize what truly matters.

Unlike the businessman, the lamplighter is driven by a higher purpose. Reflecting on him, the little prince muses: “That man would be scorned by all the others… nevertheless, he is the only one of them all who does not seem to me ridiculous. Perhaps that is because he is thinking of something else besides himself…” (Page 45)

We, too, must ask ourselves: What does the light of Hanukkah represent in our lives? What light do we seek, and what light are we willing to dedicate ourselves to?

The halacha forbidding us from counting money by the light of the Hanukkah candles teaches another profound truth. Counting money represents a worldview in which quantity is paramount. Yet the miracles of Hanukkah—the lasting oil and the victory of the few over the many—remind us that quantity is not what defines a meaningful life. Instead, it is the spirit that counts. As the Book of Zechariah so beautifully declares:

“Not by might and not by power, but by My spirit,” says the Lord of Hosts (Zechariah 4:6).