A new letter for Chanukah from our teacher, the esteemed Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, dictated from within the prison walls to his lawyer and requested to be published swiftly for his students.

Kislev 5782

"The eight days of Chanukah come to nullify the power of the eight kings of Edom: Bela the son of Beor (Parshat Vayishlach, Book of Genesis, Chapter 36, Verses 31-39, alludes to the attribute of knowledge and is Balaam the son of Beor), who swallows the entire world, and on the first night of Chanukah, we subdue him."

"Yovav the son of Zerach from Bozrah (alludes to the attribute of kindness) whom we subdue on the second night (of Chanukah)."

"Then Chusham from the land of the Temani (alludes to the attribute of strength) who is full of might and whom we subdue on the third night."

"And then we have Hadad the son of Bedad (alludes to the attribute of beauty) who is always joyful in wars, and the fourth night subdues him."

"And then we have Samlah from Masrekah (alludes to the attributes of victory and glory) who whistles over the whole world and is subdued on the fifth night."

"Then there is Shaul from Rechovot HaNahar (alludes to the attribute of foundation, his place "Rechovot HaNahar" alludes to the sefirah of "Binah"), who spreads over the whole world like a river, and he is subdued on the sixth night."

"Then we have Chanan the son of Achbor (alludes to the attribute of kingship) whom we subdue on the seventh night."

"Then comes Hadar the son of Pa'u who makes himself appear as if he is praying, building churches and mosques, and we subdue him on the eighth night."

Greetings to everyone

And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before a king reigned over the children of Israel. And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. And Bela died, and Yovav the son of Zerach from Bozrah reigned in his stead. And Yovav died, and Chusham from the land of the Temani reigned in his stead. And Chusham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Avith. And Hadad died, and Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his stead. And Samlah died, and Shaul from Rechovot HaNahar reigned in his stead. And Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. And Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Pa'u, and the name of his wife was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mei Zahav.

Book of Genesis, Chapter 36, Verses 31-39