to have כתנות אור, the whole world worked through real miracles, as the Gemara in Sanhedrin 59b says that the Malachei Hashareis were roasting meat and preparing wine for him. At that time, he was living in a world above nature. However, after Odom sinned and ate from the Eitz Hada’as, all of that changed. The world of nature took center stage, and miracles only occur on occasion. When we will be Zoche to the Geulah Shlaima, and the world will revert back to the way it was before the sin of Odom, we will once again be able to live in a world with all miracles. The miracles will be our permanent world. On Shemini Atzeres we go out of our Sukkah, the temporary world, and we go back into our homes, the permanent homes, for we yearn for when we will be Zoche to the true permanent world – when miracles will be the way of the world – when we will be Zoche to the Geulah Shlaima.
Now we can understand the Midrash, of giving to “seven” and also giving to “eight.” We had seven days of Sukkos, a time to connect to Hakodosh Boruch Hu. We eat, drink and are joyful – and we are supposed to do it Lishma – for the sake of the Mitzvah, for the sake of Hakodosh Boruch Hu. However, it is almost impossible to do it Lishma, for we receive enjoyment from it, and have physical pleasure. However, the Midrash is telling us that we are to do all those things for the seven days – and then also do it for the eighth day. What is different about the eighth day is that it comes after the seven days. We already had seven days of food, drink, and being merry. We have done it partially for Ruchniyos, and partially for Gashmiyos. Now the eighth day is here, and we need to also give the eighth what we did for the first seven days – with one difference. It is the time it should be totally Lishma – for the sake of Hakodosh Boruch Hu. The Yom Tov of Shemini Atzeres is to be a completely Ruchniyos experience. It is a Yom Tov which we must truly connect to Hakodosh Boruch Hu and beseech Hakodosh Boruch Hu that we be Zoche to get to the true permanent world, a place where miracles reign, and Hakodosh Boruch Hu is apparent to all, with the coming of Moshiach במהרה בימינו אמן.