The Power of Eight

 

Shalom, 

Next week, Tuesday evening – Dec. 12th we will light the first Hanukkah candle. 

The Torah informs us that the world was created in six days and it came to a completion on the seventh day, the Shabbat.

Thus, the number six represents the natural, material world (which is described in “time-space” dimensions) that was created in six days – time with its six spatial directions east-west, north-south, up-down – space.

Absence

In this material world the ordinary natural perception is of “absence” of the Creator. 
In Hebrew ‘World’  is עולם – OLAM, derived from the root “עלם“, meaning – disappearing, absent, hidden.

Immanence

The number seven represents Creator’s hidden presence – immanence at the heart of this world.

In other words, Seven is the very soul of Six, permeating it, instilling it with holiness, and elevating it to its perfection.

This is depicted in Magen David (David’s Shield).

Transcendence

The next number, eight, represents G-d’s transcendence above and beyond this world.
It is interesting to note theresemblance between number 8 and the symbol of infinity:

The miracle of Hanukkah, the lighting of the Menorah, lasted for eight days. It is not accidental; it is actually very intrinsic.

Hanukkah happened from the level of “eight“, that which is beyond natural law.

Hanukkah embodied Eight (8) in a unique, special holistic way.

In Hebrew, the root of the word shmonah (eight)  – שמונה  has the same letters as hashemen (the oil) – השמן, neshama (soul) נשמה.

The Talmud tells us, that the Greeks had entered the Temple and sullied all its oil.

This oil represents the deepest level of the Jewish soul.

Only one jar of pure oil was found, sealed with the seal of the High Priest – כהן גדול, who wore eight (8) special garments when serving in the Temple.

Mattityahu the Hashmonai and his sons rallied the Jews to fight against the Greeks.

The name Hashmonai – חשמונאי  has two components, the letter het, the eight letter of the aleph-bet, followed by the word for oil, shemen.

ח-שמונ-אי

Thus, the Ha–shmonai family embodied the power of Eight.

And so, there it is:

 Oil –  burning Eight days

Family of Eight

Eight calls us to recognize the transcendence, to see internal miracles in the order of natural laws in all events of our lives in the hidden (נעלם) pathways of Divine Providence.

Shabbat Shalom and Hanukkah Sameach

Yoel & Orly

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