Witch Ma'agal: Chanukah Magic

(331) The eagle would mount up even to the height of four hundred parasangs, until it reached at length the dark mountain, where is Tarmud in the wilderness; and there at last it would descend. Solomon would then lift up his head and see the dark mountain, and would learn therefrom all that it could teach him and also perceive that it was necessary to penetrate further; after which he would mount once more the back of the eagle and fly on as before until they entered into the depths of the mountains, in the midst of which grew an olive tree. When he was arrived at this spot Solomon would cry out with all his might: “Yah, thy hand is lifted up, they see not” (Isa. 26, 11).

(332) Then he would enter into that place until he reached those who abode there, and he would show them his ring, and there he gained all his knowledge of strange sciences (i.e. witchcraft). When they had told him all that he required he would fly back to his palace in the same way that he came. Then, as he sat once more on his throne, he would reflect upon all that he had gone through, and would conceive ideas of profound wisdom; and it is in reference to such an occasion that he says: “So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun….”

(333) Could he then have viewed upon his journey all such as were oppressed? Hardly so; but he was referring to the little ones, to the sucklings snatched away from their mothers’ breasts. Such as these are indeed “oppressed” from all sides: oppressed above in the celestial regions, and oppressed on earth below.

(334) There is none oppressed like those whose oppression is transmitted by heredity, concerning whom it is written: “He visits the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generations” (Ex. 20, 5).

(24) And of Asher he said:
Most blessed of sons be Asher;
May he be the favorite of his brothers,
May he dip his foot in oil.

(31) You shall make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be made of hammered work; its base and its shaft, its cups, calyxes, and petals shall be of one piece. (32) Six branches shall issue from its sides; three branches from one side of the lampstand and three branches from the other side of the lampstand. (33) On one branch there shall be three cups shaped like almond-blossoms, each with calyx and petals, and on the next branch there shall be three cups shaped like almond-blossoms, each with calyx and petals; so for all six branches issuing from the lampstand.

The Shekhinah is the offering, the secret of the anointing oil...

(3) You are permitted to work on Chanukah. But women follow the custom, not to do any work during the time the Chanukah lights are burning, and you should not [cause them] to treat this matter lightly. The reason that women are more stringent about this [than men], is that the cruelty of the evil decree was directed mainly at Jewish women. For [the Greeks] decreed that a virgin girl before her wedding must first cohabit with the general. Another reason for this is that the miracle came about through a woman. The daughter of Yochanan the Kohein Gadol was a very beautiful girl, and the ruthless king wanted her to lie with him. She told him that she would fulfill his request; and she served him cheese dishes, so that he would be thirsty, and drink wine; then become intoxicated, and fall asleep. That is precisely what happened. Then she cut off his head and brought it to Jerusalem. When the general saw that the king was dead, he [and his army] fled. Therefore, some people have the custom to eat dairy dishes on Chanukah, to commemorate the miracle achieved by means of a dairy product.

(18) Early in the morning, Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. (19) He named that site "House of God"; but previously the name of the city had been "Depart or Go crooked or Almond tree."

(1) Samuel took a flask of oil and poured some on Saul’s head and kissed him, and said, “GOD herewith anoints you ruler over this people—God’s own.

(8) Olive oil is a segulah for acquiring grace.

(10) But I am like a thriving olive tree in the Divine's house;
I trust in the compassion of the Divine forever and ever.