The Numbers of Hanukkah
The Numbers of Hanukkah
Over the eight days of Hanukkah, we light 44 candles, including the Shamash (or 36, not counting the Shamash). Chanokh reveals that both of these numbers are significant: 36 represents the 36 hidden tzadikim in every generation, while 44 is the gematria of “dam”—blood—the source of the energy of life force. Thus, the tzadikim add vitality to a person’s blood.
Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin once said: “The angels stand over them” (mima’al lo). The numerical value of “lo” (over them) is 36. Angels stand over the 36 Hanukkah candles, directly elevating every prayer recited by the candles to Heaven. The number 36 is also an allusion to the 36 hours during which the hidden light (Or HaGanuz) shone during the Creation of the world; it can be drawn down specifically during Hanukkah.
The word “or” (light) is mentioned five times in the first verses of the Torah. (Midrash Rabbah)
The words “ner” (candle), “me’or” (luminary), and “or” (light) are mentioned 36 times in the Torah—while the word “or” (light) is mentioned five times in the first verses of the Torah.
The numerical value of the word “or” is 207. Multiplied by 5, this equals 1,035.
In Hebrew, the word “elef” (one thousand) consists of the same letters as the word “alef” (one).
The Arizal teaches that if, in the number 1,035, “elef” (1,000) is replaced with “alef” (one), the result is 36.
This number alludes to the 36 hours during which the primordial light of Creation illuminated Adam: from his creation on Friday morning, the sixth day, until the conclusion of Shabbat. This Light was hidden until the end of days (and is therefore called “Or HaGanuz”—the hidden Light).
(Kehilat Yaakov, entry “or”)
It is this Light that is sung about in the song “Atkinu Seudata” of the Arizal, composed for the daytime Shabbat meal.
The words “neorah yishrei ba” (the light remains here), in which “neorah” alludes to Or HaGanuz.
(Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen, “Pri Tzadik” )
There is a beautiful segula from the great kabbalist Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropoli, may the memory of the tzadik be a blessing, which is also conveyed nowadays by Rabbi Yeshayahu Yosef Pinto: on the eighth day of Hanukkah, when the hanukkiah is complete—“Zot Hanukkah”—a woman who wishes to have children may merit this blessing. Looking at all eight lit Hanukkah candles, she recites Tehillim 80, which mentions a grapevine—“gefen.” She should picture a cluster of grapes and ask the L-rd to fill her with children just as He filled a cluster of grapes with individual grapes:
“Ribono Shel Olam! I have had the merit to light all eight Hanukkah candles, and I beseech You to grant me the merit to give birth to a son and make a brit for him on the eighth day after his birth.”
After this, one should give tzedakah and recite Chana’s prayer.
This is a very powerful segula, which on this day arouses the Attribute of the L-rd’s Mercy.
25 Kislev—Hanukkah
The number 25 consists of the letters “kaf, hei,” which form the beginning of the phrase: “ko tevar’chu et bnei Yisrael”—(so shall you bless the Children of Israel);
The word Hanukkah can be divided into two parts:
חנוכה - חנו-כה (Hanu-kah), where חנו “hanu” means “they rested” (from their enemies), while כה = 25. In other words, they defeated the Greeks and rested on the 25th.
(“Hanukkah” by Leah Gervitz)
The 25th word in the Torah is “or” (light).
The 25th encampment of the Children of Israel during their journeys through the wilderness took place at Hashmonah. All of these are allusions found in the Torah to the victory of the Hasmoneans over the enemies of the Jewish people and to the festival of Hanukkah.
The Fifth Hanukkah Candle
Chasidim celebrate the fifth night of Hanukkah.
The five Hanukkah candles embody the power of the Menorah’s light.
The fifth day of Hanukkah can never fall on Shabbat, symbolizing profound darkness.
At the same time, the fifth candle symbolizes the great light of Hanukkah, which can illuminate even the darkness.
(Based on material from the “Sila Tehillim” group on Odnoklassniki)
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Tags: Number, The Power of Hanukkah, A Segula for the Birth of Sons, The Eighth Hanukkah Candle — Segula, Rabbi Shimon of Ostropoli, Chanukah Segulot, Jewish Holidays, Number 25, Number 36, Number 8
