Chanukah 5770 - Second Night/Day

We light thirty six official wicks during Chanukah, I'm still thinking about lights. The Rokeach says that this parallels the thirty six days of the first three days of light in creation. That light was so intense that it was dissipated and reserved not for now but for later. The Sfat Emet (as adapted by Rabbi Yosef Stern in Days of Joy) says that the Rokeach's comment "is not merely a numerical analogy but also reveals his insight that every Chanukah by kindling the lights, we are somehow able to elicit the first light of creation."

Adam made a major goof, and G-d told him that Adam had now brought death into life. Adam didn't understand what this meant (like many of us). When the first winter came and daylight started decreasing Adam thought this was death itself. Adam experienced the days getting shorter as a return to the darkness and chaos that enveloped life (like many of us). He set up an eight day period of somber penitence. Then he witness the slow return of light. And he set up an eight day holiday. Hmmmm.

I haven't used my Tehillim cards in a while, till today. I picked a card any card and got one with this message under the pasuk: "G-d encourages all, yet only those willing to face their deficiencies, the humble, receive G-d's light, into the darkest recesses of their lives." I like.