Eight is a central number is Jewish life. The number eight represents the uniquely Jewish concept that man has the ability to transcend his nature. Eight symbolizes the power of the soul to contact light and emit light. Hanukah, the festival of light, which represents Godly wisdom, is celebrated by lighting a candelabra as in Temple times. It represents the divine reality beyond nature. As Hanukah is a celebration of miracles, it makes sense that the eighth day, the day beyond the natural week, encompasses the miraculous essence of this holiday.
Hanukah is a holiday that commemorates the Jewish people making the profound choice to remain loyal to their spiritual heritage, symbolized by the number eight, rather than the more immediately gratifying lifestyle of the Hellenist Greeks. And the eighth day is, metaphorically, when the people's dedication to their heritage shines the brightest.
Here are some of the photos I took on Sunday night, and you can visit my full photo-essay https://jerusalemlives.weebly.com/tour-of-hanukiot.html