Yosef wrote on 20 May 2012 15:45:
(((((((())))))))
here there are eight on each side
here, there are seven on each side
I think we can say pshat, that over there, there are seven, because it's a hug from one mortal to another, a person's actions are ruled by seven middos- chaga"t nehi"m, while hashem (who is the one giving the hugs in this thread) is above that and is infinite, it is suggested by Matisyahu that Eight is the number of Infinite- precisely because of this- because it's one more than what we know how to be [see [url=http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/matisyahu/miracle.html]
here[/url]]... Although it is highly more probable that the reason eight was suggested as the infinite symbol is because it is similar to the
Ouroboros as suggested
here. But I do believe Matisyahu's words are based on a chasidic vort (I believe from Reb Tzaddok), that the reason Chanuka has eight nights is to demonstrate this concept, that eight symbolizes what is higher than the forces of nature.
In any event eight definitely symbolizes infinity which is G-d, which farentfers the seeming stira in Yosef Hatzaddik's spelling (I wouldn't want to ch"v blame the stira on an imperfection on YH's part...)