Mysticism and Spirituality

The Hidden Light - The Ohr haGanuz

Light/Ohr (אור) is seen as a vital balance to Darkness/Choshek (חשך). Common in Hebrew, the words for Light and Dark can also be understood in a multitude of ways. In this case, revelation and obscurity, respectively.

The Hidden Orchard

17 Dec 2024 — 6 min read

On the surface, Chanukkah¹ seems like a strange holiday to celebrate today as it commemorates events over two thousand years ago. Why celebrate the dedication of a Temple destroyed in the first century?

As with most Jewish holidays, Chanukkah is ultimately a celebration of the past, present - and perhaps most importantly - the future. The key to understanding lies in the various meanings of the metaphor of "light".

Often referred to as "the festival of lights", the word Chanukkah (חנוכה) means, "dedication," as in the dedication of the Temple.

The primary mitzvah of Chanukkah is observed by lighting candles each of the 8 nights. While this is relatively simple to do, this act has spiritual significance too.

Lighting an additional candle each night—the light grows stronger as we progress through the 8 days. In total, each chanukiah, (a special menorah for Chanukkah), will consume 36 candles.

Light

As to be expected, there is more than meets the eye in the Rabbinic tradition. Let's begin unpacking this in the opening lines of Genesis.

G_D saw that the light was good, and G_D separated the light from the darkness. - Genesis 1:4

The Hebrew word for Light is Ohr (אור) and is a vital counteraction to Darkness/Choshek (חשך). Choshek is not simply the absence of light like we find when we turn off a light - it is a kind of disorderly chaos.

In fact, Choshek is the word we see in Exodus 10:21 through the plague of "darkness."

Light as Life

In Genesis, Choshek seems to have existed before the creation of light, and it is the light that makes life possible. In this case, Light and Dark can also represent revelation/life and obscurity/death, respectively.

We get a glimpse of these concepts juxtaposed many times throughout the Bible, as is the case in this well-known passage in Isaiah:

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined."
- Isaiah 9:1

36 Hours of Light

In the creation narrative, the sun and moon were created on day four, thus some form of light existed prior. Discussing this original light, the Rabbis have a name for it, the Hidden Light (Ohr HaGanuz).

“The original light of creation was hidden in the thirty-six candles of Chanukah.” - B’nei Yisaschar

A familiar Midrash teaches that this primordial light shone for (36) hours before G_D decided that it should remain hidden².

Though it was for our good, the plan is that this light will be revealed once and for all in the Messianic era. This hints at something deeper about this light - it is a metaphor for a state of higher consciousness.

A hint for this is found in the word (איכה) Ayeicha, which has a numerical value³ of (36). We see this word in Genesis 3:9 when G_D asked Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" This was not a question of physical location but of spiritual status.

The number (36) is a hint that connects this original light with the celebration of Chanukkah and the (36) candles that are lit throughout this week.

Light and Revelation

Another Gematria to note is that Light/Ohr (אור) has the same value as the word for Secrets/Raz (רז) - which is 207.

Aware of this, the Rabbinic tradition connects light to the deeper insights of the Torah, and the enlightened state of consciousness from which one can apprehend Divine Wisdom. Though this light is all around us, we must seek to attain it.

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For those familiar with the Sefirot⁴, the Ohr Haganuz is associated with the Sefirah of Chochmah/Wisdom

Light In the New Testament

Interestingly, Matthew 4:16 quotes the above passage from Isaiah in accordance with this tradition.

John's Gospel opens with themes of creation, the Word⁵, and references this light numerous times. In John 9:5, Jesus declares that he is the light of the world, meaning that he has attained a degree of this light to bring down into the world for others to make use of.

John 12, seemingly aware of this tradition, indicates that this light will recede, ostensibly with Jesus's passing:

Jesus replied, “The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.
- John 12:35-36

Written Midrashically, the author writes that Jesus "hid himself from them," a potential reference to the Ohr haGanuz.

What is interesting is that this discourse occurs span of chapters where Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Chanukkah.

In the Rabbinic literature, we see a similar ideas depicting that truly righteous people are able to draw down this Divine light for those around them, for a time. For the rest of us, we must continue to strive to reveal what we can.

Thus, Chanukkah is both a reminder and an opportunity.

Be the Light

Chanukkah is not merely a celebration of an event that occurred in the past, but an affirmation of the belief that peace will one day emerge from this present darkness.

The light of Chanukkah is a reminder for us to seek the wisdom and enlightenment that is available to all of us. We can do this through our thoughts, words, and deeds - we can move the world closer to this reality, even in the darkest of times.

"Then, the light is kindled to give inspiration, for the light of Messiah must burn brightly in our hearts.
- Chanukkah, Mesorah Publications, Brooklyn, 1981, page 104.