In Jewish mysticism, the number eight represents pure potentiality, transcendence, infinity. During HanukkahThe holiday which celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem following its conquest by the Syrians in 165 BCE. The holiday is celebrated by lighting candles in a hanukiyah oon each of eight nights. Other customs include the eating of fried foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (jelly donuts), playing dreidl (a gambling game with a spinning top), and, in present day America, gift giving. we light eight candles. We enter into a time of miracles, a time of potentiality, a time of pure transcendence, a time of infinity.
See your body as a miracle, “awesomely, wondrously made” (Psalm 139:14), a sacred vessel, a container for the light of God. See your body as a Hanukkah menorahThe seeven-branched menorah stood in the Temple, and many present-day synagogues feature the menorah. Titus' arch depicts the Romans' sacking of the Temple and theft of the menorah. A nine-branched menorah called a Hanukkiyah is lit on Hanukkah to symbolize the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.. Envision each of your four limbs as candles. Now envision three candles in the core of your body—your chest, abdomen, and spine. Envision your head and face as the eighth candle. These are eight candles of the soul, eight candles of infinity. Now envision a flame from above, reaching down from the heavens, lighting each of your candles. Focus on the source of the flame—the One God, the Creator of All That Is—the One who said “va’yehi or—let there be light.” Now see this light flowing inward, filling all the cells of your body with microscopic menorot of pure light. Your entire body glows with this light of the Infinite Flame.
Now envision the flames of your menorah flowing outward from your body in a stream of light, reaching up into the night sky, becoming one with the light of the stars. As you look up, see a menorah made entirely of stars filling the night sky. Now envision many universes, filled with countless constellations of star menorot, each one filled with eight candles of infinity, each candle lit by the Infinite Flame. “The human soul is the candle of God” (Proverbs). Even in the darkest night, these eight candles of the soul, these eight candles of infinity, are always there for you—deep within you—waiting to be kindled. Even in the darkest night, the light of the Infinite Flame is always there for you—waiting to ignite your soul.
