Q. When someone is sending invitations for a community Chanuka Party can he mention on the title the words "Chag Chanuka?" Is Chanuka a Yom Tov or not. Is there a Rabbinic mitzva of simcha and joy in Hanuka, after all we do greet each other with a Freilechen Hanuka?
A. On a similar question (976) regarding that even if there is no obligation to eat a seuda on Hanuka as we do in Purim, or eat meat and drink wine, if it is anyway recommended to do so and if making s seuda during Chanuka 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 recite shiros vesishbochos and divrei Torah on the meals of Chanuka and turn them into a seudas mitzva."
In Aleinu Leshabeach (6: p. 342) quotes that Orchois Rabbenu mentions that Horav Y.Y Kanievsky zt'l would greet people he met in Chanuka with a 'Gut Yom Tov.' Horav Y. Zilberstein Shlit'a quotes as a source the Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 217; 47 and Taz 38) maintain that Chanuka is indeed a 'Chag'. he also mentions That his Father in Law Horav Eliashiv zt'l would often say that 'Chanuka is the best of Yomom Tovim.'
However, Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that it is preferable to maintain the usual quotations of Chanuka in Talmud and tefilos, where it is not metioned as a Chag.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
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