| God said, "Let there be light," and there was | | | | wasn't physical blindness he suffered from, but |
| light.(Genesis 1:3) | | | | being "blind" to garments of this existence, |
| The 36 candles on the menorah correspond to | | | | especially the aspect of duality (this is why he |
| the 36 hours when Adam and Eve were bathed | | | | was "blind" to his own twin's characteristics, Esau |
| in The Primordial Light of creation. Today, as we | | | | and Jacob). The energy of the 36 facilitates a |
| kindle our own lights, we call forth a revelation of | | | | non-dualistic consciousness since it is a light which |
| this now hidden and intense light. (12th century | | | | Primordial Man bathed in, before the "Fall". |
| Kabbalist, R. Eliezer of Worms) | | | | Rachel and Leah |
| The Primordial Light of Creation is hidden in the 36 | | | | The total amount of years it took Jacob to |
| candles of Chanukah. (B'nei Yissachar, Kislev) | | | | transform on his life journey was 36 (from when |
| Introduction | | | | he left home, and then returned with his new |
| The mood of Winter shares with us the tender | | | | family). (Rashi, Bereishit 28:9) |
| gift of returning to our inner wombs, where our | | | | Jacob then meets his soul mate Rachel |
| wisdom resides and from which our destiny will | | | | (archetype of free-will), but gets tricked into |
| once again shine forth in Divine Timing. | | | | marrying Rachel's sister, Leah (archetype of |
| Chanukah, the Festival of Lights invites us to turn | | | | destiny). |
| our senses inward to find, cultivate, and | | | | The gematria of the Hebrew name Leah |
| rededicate our inner sanctuary. It is a time to | | | | (lamed-aleph-heh) is also 36. |
| empty accumulated garbage, to create an open | | | | The letters are also a rearrangement of the holy |
| and receptive space, and to cultivate an intimate | | | | Name of God as mentioned above (Alef, Lamed, |
| relationship with our emotions as the sensory | | | | Heh). |
| system of our soul. As we become more | | | | According to Kabbalah, Leah is the Biblical |
| peaceful inside, we gather back our power, one | | | | archetype of unanticipated destiny. She may not |
| candle at a time. The more supportive and | | | | be what we choose to have happen to us in life, |
| nurturing our inner container, the more the Ohr | | | | nor is she even desirable, but when she is |
| HaGanuz, the Primordial Light of Creation | | | | accepted and embraced (Jacob accepted her as |
| becomes available to us during this time of year. | | | | part of the family) it is through her that |
| Spiritually, the eight nights of Chanukah are a | | | | transformation happens. It is through the influence |
| cumulative and progressive process through which | | | | of Leah that the tribes of Israel are born and |
| the light of the menorah grows to reveal the | | | | Destiny is fulfilled. It is through Leah that the seed |
| inherent light of Creation. The total number of | | | | of the Messiah is produced (through Judah, House |
| Chanukah lights over the eight days is 36 | | | | of David, etc..) who will eventually come to initiate |
| (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8). As Rabbi Eliezer writes, | | | | humanity into an Age where the Ohr HaGanuz, |
| these 36 lights arouse that very same Primordial | | | | the Hidden Light, will be revealed. |
| Light which illuminated Adam and Eve on the | | | | Now we look at Rachel who gives birth to only |
| dawn of their creation, the first 36 hours of their | | | | two sons. Her first son is Joseph, and the |
| existence. The Talmud teaches: "36 hours the | | | | younger one, Benjamin. However, Rachel dies in |
| Light served . . . and Adam HaRishon (Primordial | | | | Bethlehem while giving birth to Benjamin, at age |
| Man) saw with it from one end of this world into | | | | 36. It was at this age, that Heaven felt she had |
| the Other". (Yerushalmi, Brochot 8:5) | | | | fulfilled her life journey. Like Isaac, her |
| The Midrash teaches that this intense light needed | | | | grandfather, legend tells of her absolute willingness |
| to be removed from the universe, hidden away | | | | to offer her life (one incarnation) for a higher |
| for a time still to be realized. All this so duality | | | | cause (in this case, Benjamin). |
| could exist and the evolution and purpose of the | | | | In history, Benjamin comes to represent |
| universe could unfold. | | | | Jerusalem and the Holy Temple since they were |
| Ever since the dimming of that Primordial Light, | | | | both built on the tribal land of Benjamin. It also |
| we yearn for it, search for it and pursue it, in our | | | | happens to be the same exact site (Temple |
| prayers, studies and meditation. Yet, even in our | | | | Mount - Mt. Moriah) where years earlier Isaac was |
| darkest hours, we can access this memory born | | | | willing to sacrifice his own life. |
| of the 36 hours when we, humanity as a whole, | | | | Temple Mount in Jerusalem is one of the most |
| were bathed in this light. "Where was this Light to | | | | powerful energy vortexes in the world. |
| be hidden?" asks the Midrash. It answers, "in the | | | | It is the same site where the Chanukah miracle |
| Torah." When we immerse ourselves in the truth | | | | would take place later in history. |
| and wisdom of the Torah, in its inner radiance, we | | | | Interestingly enough, Chanukah is the ONLY |
| can experience this Primordial Light of wisdom, | | | | Jewish holiday that takes place in ISRAEL, and |
| purpose, and the intent of creation. | | | | specifically on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. |
| The significance of the number 36 will lead us into | | | | The story of Chanukah is hardly given a mention |
| some further deeper understandings. | | | | in the entire Talmud. Less than one page is |
| God's Name | | | | devoted to it, while other holidays receive entire |
| God's Name in Hebrew is Elo-him (language of | | | | Tractates reviewing the holiday in depth and detail. |
| Moses) | | | | The rabbis of the earlier generations tried to play |
| God's Name in Arabic is Al-lah (language of | | | | down the story of Chanukah for political reasons, |
| Mohammed) | | | | but it would not go away. Today, it is one of the |
| God's Name in Aramaic is Elahh (language of | | | | most popular and beloved Jewish holidays, |
| Jesus) | | | | treasured especially by children and mystics - |
| They all share a common three letter root in | | | | guardians of the Hidden Light. |
| Hebrew: Alef, Lamed and Heh. The sum gematria, | | | | When does the Chanukah Story take place in |
| or numerical value of the three letters is 36 (Alef | | | | history? In the 36th Century of the Hebrew |
| - 1, Lamed - 30, Heh - 5). | | | | Calendar. |
| Torah | | | | The 36 Hidden Saints (Lamed Vav Tzaddikim) |
| Concept of light (in one form or another), appears | | | | According to tradition, there are 36 lofty souls |
| exactly | | | | present in every generation who sustain, nurture |
| 36 times throughout the entire Torah (Rokayach). | | | | and guard this Hidden Light. Those that guard it, |
| Moses | | | | remain hidden and unassuming as well. These 36 |
| It took Moses 36 days to explain the Torah to | | | | righteous people are sparks of that Hidden Light. |
| Israel (Seder | | | | Through their refined consciousness, this light, |
| Olam Rabbah 10). | | | | warmth and wisdom flows into and permeates |
| Moses himself was born exactly 36 years after | | | | the world. |
| the oppression in Egypt began. | | | | Master Kabbalist - The Holy Ari (1534-1572) |
| When Moses was born, it is said that the house | | | | Rabbi Yitzchak Luria Ashkenazi - The ARI - |
| was filled with light. | | | | reverently known as Ari HaKadosh, was the lion |
| It is written there, "And she saw him, that he | | | | of his and all generations when it came to |
| was GOOD" | | | | revealing the depth of Kabbalah and its |
| (Exodus 2:2) and there (in Genesis 1:4) it is also | | | | understanding of the Universe as a whole. Until |
| written, "God saw the light, that it was GOOD" | | | | this very day, nobody comes close to his |
| (Talmud; Sotah 12a) | | | | greatness and light in terms of revealing the |
| Commentary to above: "She saw him, that it (he) | | | | metaphysics of existence contained within the |
| was good" -- "it" being the Ohr HaGanuz - Hidden | | | | secrets of Torah. |
| Light of Creation, as a Presence that came into | | | | For our own interest here, the ARI remained |
| the world with Moses. (Sha'arei Leshem, p. 130) | | | | hidden for most of his life, until his maggid, a |
| The word in the Torah used to describe the | | | | non-physical guide, announced it was time for him |
| Hidden or Primordial Light is "tov" meaning GOOD. | | | | to reveal himself. He had received his mission to |
| When it appears in the Torah for the first time, | | | | reveal the hidden when he was only 36 years old. |
| the first letter "Tet" of "tov" (good) has a very | | | | He died some 2 ½ years later. |
| unusual feature. The letter "tet", like many other | | | | Conclusion |
| letters in a Torah scroll have tiny "crowns" | | | | Our world is filled with mysteries, and it is in the |
| extending from them (which kabbalists teach is a | | | | darkest months of the year, that the most |
| hidden language of its own). What is unusual about | | | | luminous energy becomes available. The hidden is |
| this letter here is that is has four "crowns" instead | | | | revealed and its radiance is accessible to all those |
| of the usual three. According to the Kabbalist, the | | | | who wish to partake and be nourished by it. |
| B'nei Yissachar, when the four is multiplied by the | | | | The Chanukah lights, unlike the Shabbat candles, |
| number nine (the value of the "tet" itself), the | | | | may not be used for personal pleasure. "These |
| total is 36. | | | | lights are holy. We must not use them for |
| The Patriarch Isaac | | | | pleasure, we may only gaze upon them" |
| Abraham was a righteous person whose very life | | | | (Chanukah liturgy). For these Chanukah lights |
| embodied the values of the Hidden Light of | | | | celebrate a primordial light, untouched, reminding |
| creation. But when Isaac was born, he was the | | | | us that there are higher forces at work. It is our |
| first in history to be circumcised on the eighth | | | | connection with these higher forces that replace |
| day. Since eight represents transcending the | | | | the false perception of separation and fear with |
| physical, he became infused with all that "eight" | | | | experiences of oneness, Divine assistance and |
| represents (transcendence), raising him forever | | | | trust. |
| above the natural world. This is why he, at such a | | | | In Earth school, we are in the process of learning |
| young age warranted to see the Divine Presence | | | | and training ourselves to reach higher levels of |
| like his father. Contrary, to popular legend, Isaac | | | | consciousness. Indeed, the Chanukah lights serve |
| was 37 years old when he was "sacrificed". | | | | as an antennae for holiness, drawing down the |
| According to the mystical tradition, Isaac was a | | | | energy of the 36. With every day of Chanukah |
| very willing and enthusiastic participant in offering | | | | that passes, the light gets increasingly stronger. |
| himself up as a sacrifice to G-d, and that although | | | | We place our lit candles in the window as a |
| no slaughter took place, Isaac nevertheless left his | | | | beacon to all passersby to remind the world that |
| body. | | | | darkness can indeed be dispelled, obscurity can be |
| The event took place when Isaac was 37, for the | | | | illuminated, and that it is God's Light which will |
| reason that he had already reached his spiritual | | | | prevail in the end. |
| climax at the end of a complete 36 year life | | | | May the up and coming year be a new journey |
| cycle. According to Midrash, although Isaac had | | | | of discovery for us all and may we jump with all |
| not died physically, a part of him transcended | | | | our heart into the evolutionary unknown holding |
| even further beyond his earthly identity, causing | | | | our candles of faith, and common love for each |
| him to be likened to an angel. The text says he | | | | other. |
| was blind after the Akeidah (binding, sacrifice). It | | | | |