# 4238 Enlight the Fire

On question 3708 we wrote: "Sefer Ranu LeYaakov (p. 214) mentions echoing Chassam Soffer, that

the source for this very widespread tradition, is the pasuk “Eish Das

Lamo’ (Devarim 33: 2) that well describes the constant fiery fight and

combat the Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai led against those who opposed the

learning of Torah.

See also Lebush Yosef (p. 215), Ginas Reuben (p.13), Vezos LeYehuda (p.

229) and others that quote the minhag and offer other reasons. Many of

them are based on the symbolic representation of fire to the learning

and teaching of Torah, especially of the Nitzotzos or sparks of Kedusha

inherent in the Zohar and Cabalah teachings.

Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that people should maintain the traditions and minhagim of their families and congregations.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a