Tonight is the fourth night of Chanukah.
In the times of the Holy Temple, the Kohen Gadol used to light the Menorah which constituted seven branches as opposed to the Hanukiah that we light on Chanukah, which has nine branches. The lighting of the Hanukiah is to remind us of the miracle that after the Macabeets won the war against the Greeks and they entered the temple, they only found a little jar of oil that had not been defiled and was still pure. Instead of lasting one day it lasted eight days miraculously giving the Jews enough time to produce more oil. The Menorah in the temple only had seven branches because it represented the physical world. The number seven represents the seven days of the week, it also represents the seven emotional attributes and different personalities. The Menorah was made of one solid block of gold which alluded to the fact that although there are different types of people we have to know that we are all one. Like a body has head,torso and extremities if you cut a finger your whole body will feel the pain. The Hanukiah, on the other hand has eight branches and one Shamash. Number eight transcends the physical world. There is no such thing as the eighth day in a week. Number eight means to go beyond your intellect and emotions. It means to take a leap of faith. The Shamash stands a little higher and alone from the rest of the other eight candles. This Shamash or helper as it’s known is the one that kindles all the other candles. Chanukah teaches us to always shine, to be the light no matter what. Sometimes we need help from someone else ( a parent, a teacher, a friend, a mentor, etc) that will help us shine and show us the way and sometimes we are that Shamash that stands alone making sure that everyone around it is shining. Whoever you are at this moment ( the Shamash or the candle) don’t stop burning and lighting the world.
