A long long time ago, in a distant land, lived a king who from time to time wore a disguise to see how people lived in his empire. He did this also because he was often bored in the palace where he did nothing but sign papers one after the other.
Hanna, the Jewish orphan, lived in this empire. She looked after herself from an early age and everyone loved her because she was always cheerful. She was also called Cheerful Hanna because she brought joy and happiness to wherever she went.
One December night, the king decided to visit the city’s Jewish Quarter. He knew the Jews were celebrating some kind of winter holiday and he wanted to know more about it. Dressed in the disguise of beggar clothes, the king walked the cold streets. As the sun went down he noticed that candles were burning on multi-branched candle-holders in the homes. A delicate festive scent flew through the air. Families celebrated, sang, and laughed together. It was the first night of Chanukah.
The king continued on his way until he reached a small house on the outskirts of the city. There must be no merriment in this poor hut, he thought. The king wondered who was living in the cottage so he knocked on the door and pretended to beg for bread. The door opened immediately and Hanna invited the stranger into her home.
The king was surprised at the kind reception he received since he saw that Hanna had little to nothing to celebrate herself, yet she was happy to see the stranger, invited him in, sat him down, and lit the candle. The king was also surprised by the joy on her face and how happily she sang the festive songs.
“How are you able to afford your bread?” – asked the king. Hanna told him that she would collect the salt from the seawater and sell it at the market.
"How come you sing with such joy when you're not sure that you will have something to eat tomorrow?"
“Today is the first night of Chanukah, the night of joy, when we celebrate the miracle that happened to our ancestors long ago. Although I am an orphan and live by myself, the Eternal has helped me so far. Every day is a miracle to me and this is why I am so I’m happy.”
“And what will happen tomorrow?” The king asked. “What's next?”
“Now it is just today, tomorrow hasn't come yet, ”Hanna replied as she said goodbye to the beggar.
That night as the king returned to the palace, he was greatly influenced by Hanna's faith and trust in God. Would she remain so strong in her faith, no matter what happened? The king wanted to know the answer, so he decided to put the girl to the test.
The next day the king promulgated a decree on the market:
“It is forbidden to sell sea salt on the market. Whoever breaks this will be sentenced to death!”
Dressed as a beggar again, the king went to Hanna’s. Hanna invited him in again and the king watched as she lit the Chanukah candles and sang happily.
"Hanna, I was scared for you when I heard the king's decree," he said. “How could you buy food for yourself?”
Hanna recounted that by chance, as she stood in the market, she saw an empty clay pot. At that moment, she heard a passerby looking for someone to bring water into his house.
"I ran quickly to the well," Hanna said, "I filled the pot and took the water to him for a couple of coins."
"What if things turn bad again?" – asked the king.
“Today it’s only today,” – said Hanna, - “the day of miracles. Tomorrow hasn’t come yet. Join me in singing songs.”
However, the king left because he did not believe one could trust and believe this much.
The next day the king issued a new decree banning the transport of water in clay pots. In the evening he was there again with Hanna, who invited him in for dinner again, sang, and lit the third candle. Hanna told the king that she went out into the woods with the lumberjacks, collected branches and sold them at the market.
The king placed obstacle after obstacle in front of Hanna who constantly reinvented herself in every possible situation. And each night the king found her at home with dinner on the table and he watched Hanna light the Chanukah candles while singing and rejoicing.
It was customary in this kingdom for everyone to play their part in the guarding of the royal palace. Men, women, a children all had to stand guard for a week each year. The guards were not paid for their service but they received a gun for a week. He who did not fulfill this duty was expelled from the empire for treason. The king placed Hanna on duty for the next watch list. He thought to himself that Hanna will inevitable lose faith now since she will have no chance of collecting enough money for food. To his greatest surprise, however, on the seventh day of Chanukah, when he showed up at Hanna’s, he was very happily received. After making the beggar promising not tell anyone what he was about to hear, Hanna recounted:
“I was called to stand guard at the royal palace today. I didn’t get paid, but I got a beautiful steel knife for the extent of my service. At the end of my daily service I went to the market to the carpenter and sold him the sword at a regular price. In return, he carved a wooden sword for me just like the original one. At the end of the week, I thought I’d somehow buy back the original so they wouldn’t notice anything. As long as the swords are not examined there won’t be any problem.”
The king smiled because he finally knew what obstacle Hanna will not be able to overcome.
The next day a commander went to Hanna and said,
“We caught a prisoner in the act of stealing. You will be his executioner.” Hanna tried to object, but there was nothing she could do. She was led to the courtyard of the palace where the poor prisoner was seen on his knees with his head on a log, awaiting death. A crowd of spectators stood in a circle to see the execution. The king watched the developments from his balcony.
Hanna stood beside the prisoner. She knew she had to quickly come up with something to save the prisoner’s and her own life. So she raised her voice and turned to the crowd.
“My friends, I am just a humble woman who lives according to the laws of the Torah. I never killed or wounded anyone and I don’t want to start now. A prisoner is suspected of theft. We are in the month of Kislev, the Hebrew month of miracles. The same way that God hurried to the aid of my ancestors long ago, I now ask of Him for a miracle.”
She grabbed onto the sword and continued.
“If this poor prisoner is guilty I will do what the law requires and behead him. However, if he is innocent, turn this steel sword into a wooden sword.” And at that moment she lifted her sword.
All of a sudden the crowd erupted in cheers.
“The steel sword has turned into a wooden sword! A miracle happened! The Eternal performed a Chanukah miracle!”
Only the king knew the truth and he realized that Hanna would never lose her faith. And that she could never be outsmarted.
That evening, when the eighth flame of the Chanukkiah was ignited, the king visited the girl again, but this time he arrived with his royal entourage.
"This girl taught me the true meaning of faith. Let us honor her with joy and celebration!”
Hanna and the king became good friends and she often gave advice on state affairs. As a result, peace and happiness prevailed everywhere in the empire and wars ceased. People all over the country loved her and they called her “Happy Hanna” until the end of her life.