Q. We know that unlike Purim we don't eat seudos or special meals on Chanuka. Why not? We should make a Sedas Hodaah for the great miracles done to our forefathers and us?
A. On question 1222 of Ask the Rabbi, concerning if Chanuka is called a Yom Tov or Chag. we wrote:
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it is called a Chag and a Yom Tov as we find in Shulchan Aruch (Y. D. 217: 47) regarding a neder done exempting those days, that Chanuka and Purim are also considered Yomim Tovim at least in name. Taz (ibid. 38) explains that in the language and expressions that people commonly use, and they are included. Orchos Rabeinu mentions that Horav Chaim Kanievsky zt’l would indeed greet people with a “Gut Yom Tov” on Chanuka.
On question 1976 regarding if Hanuka is a Yom Tov for greeting purposes or to recommend eating meat and drinking wine, and if making s seuda in Chanuka is considered a seudas Mitzva, we wrote;
Rambam (H. Chanuka 3: 3) writes that the days of Chanuka were established by the Sages of that generation as days of “simcha and hallel,” rejoice and praise. Poskim disagree as to the definition of simcha in Chanuka. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 370: 2) rules that the simcha is limited to not fasting or saying hespedim and the meals eaten are not considered seudos mitzva,. Mishna Berura (6) quotes the Levush that explains the difference between Chanuka and Purim.
Remah (ibid.), however maintains that there is some mitzva in the seuda and if one recites shiros and sishbachos to Hashem, thanking and praising for the miracles that occurred they are considered seudos mitzva.
Chassam Sofer (Y.D. 233), seems to maintain that although the particular mitzvos that apply to Purim and Chanuka are only rabbinical, the instituting of a day of moed on the day a miracle occurred and rejoicing in it, is a biblical mitzva.
Even Ezra (Behaaloscha) explains on the pasuk “ubeyom simchaschem ubemoadeichem” when you were victorious over your enemies and you will establish them as days of rejoice, that it refers to Chanuka and Purim. (See also questions 1222, 1555 and 1971).
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that one should indeed recite shiros vesishbochos and divrei Torah on the meals of Chanuka and turn them into a certain seudas mitzva."
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
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