It is customary amongst Chasidim to make a big deal over the fifth night of Chanukah. Considering what we know about Jewish festivals, one might think something super amazing happened on the fifth night many years ago.  Was the fifth night when we delivered the final kick in the pants, er, togas to the Greeks? Perhaps, during another celebration, years later, another Chanukah miracle occured?
No, not really.  The fifth night of Chanukah just happens to fall on a date in the Jewish calendar that can never be on Shabbos. Shabbos is the most illuminated of days - imbued with Holy light and the day on which every Jew gets an extra soul - a redoubled connection to HaShem.  So too, any festival celebrated on Shabbos is twice as special.  The poor fifth night, however, can never experience this unique energy. The fifth night of Chanukah will only ever hold a certain amount of G-dly light.
What is Chanukah, though, but the Festival of Light? It is the holiday on which we celebrate G-dly light and seek to recreate it. On Chanukah, HaShem made a miracle with lights and it is our perpetual mission to emulate Him. On Chanukah, when there was potential for only a little light, HaShem increased it. Since it is our job to dedicate our lives to becoming more like Him, our mission on Chanukah is to increase light.  What better place to increase light when there only seems to be the possibility for so little of it?  As we kindle the fifth wick on our Menorahs, we should also be lighting up the world with the glow of G-dliness. Tonight is an especially auspicious time to joyfully engage in the service of G-d and just as light spreads in the darkness, encourage others to do the same.  Tonight and tomorrow, concentrate on the opportunities to illuminate the G-dly sparks inside of you and spread the light outward. Even a little light has the strongest effect in the greatest darkness, so this is your chance to truly shine.
Chanukah is the celebration of the victory of the few - The Maccabees - over the many - the Greeks. It is also the celebration of a small amount of oil bringing a great deal of light. In the battle against Antiochus' army it would have been easier, perhaps even seemed more prudent to yield. Antiochus was fine with Jews learning Torah, from and academic standpoint, but to believe that it came from HaShem it was a punishable offense.  But Torah without HaShem is a tree with no roots and no sun to nourish it. The Maccabees fought for HaShem, and because of that, HaShem fought with them. He showed the Maccabees that He stood beside them by bringing them through to victory and then shining His light in the Holy Temple. If the Maccabees had succumbed to the apparant and yielded to the might of the Maccabees, that light would not have shone.
Today, we are surrounded by so many things that can detract our attention from G-d and even seek to (Chas V'Shalom) disprove His relevance in our lives. They are easy to see and touch. Are you fighting them as best you can?  Chasidus teaches that in every holiday, the spiritual energy of the first occurence of that holiday returns to this world. On Chanukah, we have the chance to tap into the spirit of the Maccabees and fight to bring G-d's light into our lives and spread it to the lives of others. Tonight, as great darkness threatens, the smallest spark can catch aflame bring light to the world.
Now is your chance. Be kind, be joyful, smile and rededicate yourself. Your home is a Mikdash Me'at - a small Temple, as the Cohanim rededicated the Temple on Chanukah to its Holy purpose of being a dwelling place for G-d, make your home and your heart once again a space for the divine in this mundane world.
Today, after a year's hiatus, I am rededicating The Shiny Project to its mission of spreading light to the world. Join the mission by spreading joy and kindness and doing what you can to get closer to G-d.  Spread the word and spread the light.