Why is Chanukah eight days?
Because seven is the number of the natural world. Eight transcends nature.
But how can a human being transcend nature?
By lighting one more natural light today than yesterday for seven natural days.
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.
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David Harold Chester
Petach Tikva, Israel
December 9, 2020
So according to this Dose, do nature have no candles of her own? does she shed no light? Reply
Rabbi Tzvi Freeman
December 14, 2020
in response to David Harold Chester:
Seven days of light! And with that light, you can reach even beyond!
G‑d hides within nature. A natural world of consistent patterns presents the illusion of a world that operates all on its own, a closed system that explains itself.
But the human being has intelligence. We can look deeper and realize how wondrous is this nature. How within every pattern, every atom, every moment of time, hides the infinite wisdom of a G‑d who transcends all bounds.
Reply
Susan
Seattle Area
December 10, 2023
in response to Rabbi Tzvi Freeman:
Praise be unto Him! Amen. Reply
This is based On the argument of Rabbbi Akiva: Should the light be lit all since the first day or at the end?
NO because learning grows day by day. So ,in the same way Mitzvot grow day by day. That is human nature. H' knows it all but we can't, and there is so much we can do in 24 hours. Yet, in time there is an accumulation that is worthy in learning or Mitzvot !
When we light the candles first we think first of gratitude to H', and the we must plan what more learning or which Mitzvot we are ready to do. In that way we transcend nature just like Avraham avinu said Hineni= here I am. ( to do what H' dommands.)
Perhaps one simply becomes the wick as one breathes the breath of life…it is all marvelous, truly beyond ..
Love that interpretation too! Very spiritual and exquisite. Thank you for adding to my thoughts. Chag Hanukkah sameach, and we go forward no matter what happens in this crazy human world.