לא בחיל ולא בכח כי אם ברוחי אמר ה' צבאות ... (זכרי' ד-ו)
In the Haftorah of Shabbos Chanukah, Zecharia HaNavi speaks to a moment far beyond the second Bais Hamikdash. In fact, he speaks to the third and final Bais Hamikdash whose foundation stone was laid by the second Temple. Still, the Navi’s led to a vision in which he is shown the seven -armed Menorah of the Bais Hamikdash and how each of its lights is fed with the oil through seven separate tubes. But what is the meaning of this wondrous menorah?
R’ Shamshon Raphael Hirsch zt”l explains that the Navi tells us how this Menorah bears the very tree on which the oil -yielding olives grow and ripen. In essence, it is a Menorah that bears and maintains everything that is required for giving light. This is a proclamation by Hashem, for Zerubavel, the leader of the Jewish people during the second Temple era, explaining that the foundation stone that was being laid for the second Bais Hamikdash, and for whose ideal completion all the coming generations are called upon to work, should know, that “not by force of arms, nor by physical strength will it be accomplished, but only by Hashem’s Spirit.” It is a lesson for all human society to know - every individual person, even the seemingly weakest and smallest - that as soon as he is imbued with the holy spirit of Hashem nothing can stop him. With such strength he possesses the strength of giants to accomplish his work and Hashem will help him.
On Chanukah, in the dead of the dark winter, the Menorah serves to lighten our way and teach us this profound lesson.