Chanukah is about the celebration of two miracles.  One is the neis of the Menorah, and the other is the victory over the Yevanim.  Because of these two nissim, Chazal instituted a special Yom Tov of Hallel and Hoda’ah, during which we light the Menorah, and recite Hallel and Al  Hanissim. 

Interestingly, the Tefillah of Al Hanissim does not mention the neis of the single “pach shemen”, and the Gemara that describes the Yom Tov of Chanuka does not mention commemorating this neis through the lighting of the Menorah.  It only mentions a Yom Tov of: Hallel and Hoda’ah.

While it is understood that the first of the two obligations of this Yom Tov are fulfilled through the recitation of Hallel, how do we fulfill the obligation of Hoda’ah?

Some of the questions that arise due to this ambiguity -

• ·         Is the lighting of the Menorah an act of Hoda’ah?
• ·         If the recitation of Al Hanissim falls under the category of Hoda’ah, then what if one said Al Hanissim in Shemone Esrei during the bracha of Ri’tzeh (similar to Yaale V’Yavo) instead of during the Bracha of Modim? 
• ·         In many Yeshivos, the full Chazoras Hashatz is not recited during Mincha (i.e. Hoicha Kedusha).  Al Hanissim is therefore not recited during Chazoras Hashatz of Mincha.  If Al Hanissim is part of the obligation for Hoda’ah, should one be stringent to recite the full Chazoras Hashatz during Chanukah?
• ·         Is there a real chiyuv Simcha on Chanukah (similar to major Yomim Tovim), or is it just a day that it is prohibited to be sad? 
• Are Chanuka parties obligatory?