The eighth candle

• Published date: 18 December 2020
• Date: 18 December 2020
• Author: Dr. Devorah Ungar
• Publication title: Israel National News (Israel)

The eighth night of Hannukah. The family will gather and light the candles together. The room is filled with wonder and joy. There are eight candles sparkling, the light of which brings warmth to the family inside and to the passers-by outside who will see its glow. A reminder of God's presence. Of His miracles, of His protection and care for His People Israel.

The children will spin the dreidel. They turn it, turn it. To their delight, it spins and sparkles, and a lovely tune is playing alongside its gay spin.

Gold, chocolate-filled coins will be distributed. The children will delightedly open the delicious treat and consume the round chocolate. Round, as the nature of life. As the beginning of a circle will meet the end, and form a figure whose beginning and end are now indiscernible. It just circles, as does life. A cycle of joy and sorrow and joy. Of the sun which rises today and sets tomorrow, only to be followed by another sunrise and another sunset. Circling into eternity.

The children will serenely consume the chocolate coins, having no need for the gold coin as a currency, and knowing that their more mundane needs will be met by benevolence. So it will be for all of Mankind, one day. As it once was in the Garden of Eden.

And now, it is Hannukah. And we are engrossed in gold coins and dreidels, and the wonder of the Menorah.

In the days of the Holy Temple, the High Priest would light the Menorah. A golden Menorah, a seven branched candlelabrum.

According to tradition, the seven branches of the Menorah represent the seven days of Creation. The central light represents the Sabbath.

The Menorah itself is in the shape of a tree, reminiscent of the Tree of Life.

The seven branches of the Menorah allude to the seven emotive attributes of God. By lighting the lamps, these attributes are revealed, enabled to shine in our midst.

It is prohibited to use a seven-lamp Menorah outside of the Temple (Menachot 28b). We therefore light instead an eight-candelabrum menorah.

One day the Messiah will come, the Holy Temple will be rebuilt, and once again the golden seven-candlelabrum Menorah will be lit.

We will return to the days of the Garden of Eden. When man lived in harmony with nature, in tranquility and beauty. Man will now live in harmony also with one another, in a state of unity and peace. The world will be filled with the knowledge of God, overflowing as the rivers run to the sea, radiant as the light of the candles we are now lighting.

In the haftorah of...