1,425. Prioritizing Mitzvos

Hilchos Megillah v’Chanukah 4:12

The mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah menorah is very precious. One should be scrupulous in this mitzvah in order to publicize the miracle and thereby increase our praises of God and our thanks to Him for the miracles that He performed for us. Even if someone has no money for food beyond what he receives from charity, he should sell his clothes in order to buy oil and a menorah in order to perform this mitzvah.

Hilchos Megillah v’Chanukah 4:13

If a person has only one prutah (a small denomination of coin), which he can use either for kiddush wine for Shabbos day or oil for his Chanukah menorah, priority is given to buying the oil. Since these are both rabbinic mitzvos, it is better to prioritize the Chanukah menorah because it commemorates the miracle.