God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.(Genesis 1:3)

The 36 candles on the menorah correspond to the 36 hours when Adam and Eve were bathed in The Primordial Light of creation. Today, as we kindle our own lights, we call forth a revelation of this now hidden and intense light. (12th century Kabbalist, R. Eliezer of Worms)

The Primordial Light of Creation is hidden in the 36 candles of Chanukah. (B'nei Yissachar, Kislev)

Introduction

The mood of Winter shares with us the tender gift of returning to our inner wombs, where our wisdom resides and from which our destiny will once again shine forth in Divine Timing.

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights invites us to turn our senses inward to find, cultivate, and rededicate our inner sanctuary. It is a time to empty accumulated garbage, to create an open and receptive space, and to cultivate an intimate relationship with our emotions as the sensory system of our soul. As we become more peaceful inside, we gather back our power, one candle at a time. The more supportive and nurturing our inner container, the more the Ohr HaGanuz, the Primordial Light of Creation becomes available to us during this time of year.

Spiritually, the eight nights of Chanukah are a cumulative and progressive process through which the light of the menorah grows to reveal the inherent light of Creation. The total number of Chanukah lights over the eight days is 36 (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8). As Rabbi Eliezer writes, these 36 lights arouse that very same Primordial Light which illuminated Adam and Eve on the dawn of their creation, the first 36 hours of their existence. The Talmud teaches: "36 hours the Light served . . . and Adam HaRishon (Primordial Man) saw with it from one end of this world into the Other". (Yerushalmi, Brochot 8:5)

The Midrash teaches that this intense light needed to be removed from the universe, hidden away for a time still to be realized. All this so duality could exist and the evolution and purpose of the universe could unfold.

Ever since the dimming of that Primordial Light, we yearn for it, search for it and pursue it, in our prayers, studies and meditation. Yet, even in our darkest hours, we can access this memory born of the 36 hours when we, humanity as a whole, were bathed in this light. "Where was this Light to be hidden?" asks the Midrash. It answers, "in the Torah." When we immerse ourselves in the truth and wisdom of the Torah, in its inner radiance, we can experience this Primordial Light of wisdom, purpose, and the intent of creation.

The significance of the number 36 will lead us into some further deeper understandings.

God's Name

God's Name in Hebrew is Elo-him (language of Moses)

God's Name in Arabic is Al-lah (language of Mohammed)

God's Name in Aramaic is Elahh (language of Jesus)

They all share a common three letter root in Hebrew: Alef, Lamed and Heh. The sum gematria, or numerical value of the three letters is 36 (Alef - 1, Lamed - 30, Heh - 5).

Torah

Concept of light (in one form or another), appears exactly

36 times throughout the entire Torah (Rokayach).

Moses

It took Moses 36 days to the mystical christ  the Torah to Israel (Seder
Olam Rabbah 10).

Moses himself was born exactly 36 years after the oppression in Egypt began.

When Moses was born, it is said that the house was filled with light.

It is written there, "And she saw him, that he was GOOD"

(Exodus 2:2) and there (in Genesis 1:4) it is also written, "God saw the light, that it was GOOD" (Talmud; Sotah 12a)

Commentary to above: "She saw him, that it (he) was good" -- "it" being the Ohr HaGanuz - Hidden Light of Creation, as a Presence that came into the world with Moses. (Sha'arei Leshem, p. 130)

The word in the Torah used to describe the Hidden or Primordial Light is "tov" meaning GOOD. When it appears in the Torah for the first time, the first letter "Tet" of "tov" (good) has a very unusual feature. The letter "tet", like many other letters in a Torah scroll have tiny "crowns" extending from them (which kabbalists teach is a hidden language of its own). What is unusual about this letter here is that is has four "crowns" instead of the usual three. According to the Kabbalist, the B'nei Yissachar, when the four is multiplied by the number nine (the value of the "tet" itself), the total is 36.

The Patriarch Isaac

Abraham was a righteous person whose very life embodied the values of the Hidden Light of creation. But when Isaac was born, he was the first in history to be circumcised on the eighth day. Since eight represents transcending the physical, he became infused with all that "eight" represents (transcendence), raising him forever above the natural world. This is why he, at such a young age warranted to see the Divine Presence like his father. Contrary, to popular legend, Isaac was 37 years old when he was "sacrificed". According to the mystical tradition, Isaac was a very willing and enthusiastic participant in offering himself up as a sacrifice to G-d, and that although no slaughter took place, Isaac nevertheless left his body.