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From the Rabbi:
Most of us are familiar with the basic story of Chanukah. The Greeks forbade us from practicing our faith and defiled God’s Holy Temple. When the victorious Maccabees threw off the yoke of Greek imperial rule and rededicated The Temple, they found only a small jar of ritually pure oil, enough to light the Menorah for a single day. The great Chanukah miracle was that the oil lasted the entire eight days necessary to produce new pure oil. We commemorate this miracle by lighting candles for eight nights to re-enact the story.
One frequently asked question which appears in the halachic literature is, “the first night wasn’t a miracle, so why do we light candles for eight nights, not seven?” Some rabbis have suggested that the miracle of the first night was the military victory of the “few over the many." For some, this continues to be an inspiration as Israel remains surrounded by enemies on all sides. However, there are also voices among our people and in our tradition that reject a militaristic answer on principle. The Zohar, for example, suggests that the miracle was that we found this very special cruze of oil which was made by Noah from the olives on the branch the dove brought back to the arc. The invocation of the dove with the olive branch makes the Chanukah candles a universal symbol of peace rather than victory. Another explanation of the miracle of the first night is that despite knowing that there was only enough oil for one night, the Maccabees nevertheless chose to light the oil. That we take positive action despite seemingly hopeless circumstances is in itself perhaps a miracle.
In my opinion however, if we look closely, the question itself (like so many Jewish questions) is far more interesting than any of the answers. What we are really asking is, “How do human actions become God’s miracle?” “How does 7 become 8?” There's something inherently wonderous about how human actions can reveal Divine light. That's the great mystery - and the essential miracle.
In the Torah, seven always signifies wholeness, the completion of a full cycle. There are six days in the process of creation, and Shabbat makes the week whole. Seven weeks from Pesach to Shavuot. Seven ‘clean days’ counted in family purity. Seven years of service and a slave goes free. Seven years in the agricultural cycle. Every seven sevens, the economy is reset. Seven pieces in the Lulav ensemble with which we celebrate seven days. When we get to seven, we’ve done our job as humans and the cycle is complete.
Eight however signifies something more than completion - the inclusion of the infinite. The most famous eight in the Torah is the eighth day of circumcision. Circumcision isn’t about a function like hygiene, increased sensitivity or even “perfecting the Human form." If it were, it would belong on the sixth or seventh day. Circumcision is instead a “sign” that we are “with God." It’s not something which changes us functionally, only that it points to the Presence of the infinite in our very flesh. This is what the number eight always signifies. The Mishkan was filled with the presence of Hashem on the eighth day. The final day of the High Holiday cycle, Shmini Atzeret (lit. The Eighth Festival), is a celebration of the unique relationship Israel has with Hashem. It's not because of what we have done or will do. It's not even looking back to what Hashem has done for us. Rather, we celebrate the Eighth Day simply because the Presence of Hashem is with us.
The Menorah itself also has this essential element. In Parshat Beha'alotcha where Aaron is instructed how to light the Menorah it says, (Num. ch 8 - of course!) ”When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light towards the body of the Menorah”. The seven lights are meant to illuminate the eighth - the Menorah itself. Why lean the wicks toward the menorah itself? Rashi explains, “so that we shouldn’t think that God needs the light." The light is not functional. Rather, “it is a testimony that The Shechina (God’s Presence) dwells with the Jewish people.”
So while for some people, (like kids) Chanukah has become about presents, it's really about Presence. God's Presence. In our hearts. In our homes and families. In our community, among our People, throughout our history and even in our darkest times. This is The Great Miracle.
Shabbat Shalom and a Luminous Chanukah to all,
Rabbi Shlomo
Classes This Week
NOTE: The Thursday evening class is paused until further notice.
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