More Discussions for this daf
1. Questions from Daf 13-21 2. R Shimon Ben Gamliel "Ma'aseh Rav" 3. Mistake in Question
4. Chashmona'im 5. Yonah's Kikoyon 6. Rav Huna and Rav Chisda
7. Time Chanukah Lights Must Burn 8. Miracle of Oil 9. The Parei ha'Chag of Sukkos and the Chanukah lights
10. Ner Ish u'Beiso 11. Mehadrin and Pirsum Nes 12. Mehadrin
13. Insights on the Daf - Vilna Gaon on the Rif 14. The eight day miracle 15. The argument between Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel how to light the Chanukah lights
16. Hillel and Shamai 17. How to light the Chanukah candles: 18. Neros After 30 Minutes
19. Next year... 20. Eight days of Chanukah 21. שיטת אביי
22. טעמי ב"ש וב"ה
DAF DISCUSSIONS - SHABBOS 21

Benjamin asked:

My specific question is What is the reasoning for Hillel and Shami's disputes. Why did Hillel want to light 1, 2, 3 etc, and Why did Shami want 8, 7 ,6 etc?

The Kollel replies:

The Gemara offers two possible explanations for the Machlokes. Either Beis Shamai lights to represent the days yet to come, while Beis Hillel lights to represent the days already passed. Alternatively, the Gemara suggests that Beis Shammai has the lights correspond to the 70 cows brought for Korbanos on Sukkos which decrease each day (13,12,11 etc.), while Beis Hillel applies the rule of Ma'alin ba'Kodesh, that we must always establish Mitzvos in a way that we increase the Kedushah rather than decreasing it.

D. Zupnik