"You will command the Children of Israel, and
they shall take for you clear olive oil, crushed, for illumination, to light a
lamp [the Menorah] continuously."(Ex. 27:20)
The Western Flame...burned...all night, testifying that the Shechinah dwells
in Israel.
The Western Flame1, the most prominent of the
Menorah's seven branches, was a Ner Tamid (Eternal Lamp); it would burn
from evening to evening, all night, testifying that the Shechinah dwells
in Israel. This lamp needed to be lit from the purest olive oil, from the first
pressing of the olives.2
What is the significance? The olive is bitter; this
represents the concealment of G-d's supervision of His Creation. A person
therefore may think that there is no law and no judge. There are two paths to
straighten out this misunderstanding. One is called the Path of Suffering
(Heaven protect us), where through difficulties and pain a person improves his
actions. The second is the Path of Torah, where through understanding and
contemplation in the ways of G-d, one comes to see the goodness of Divine
Providence.
This lack of understanding is symbolized by the
olive, which is bitter, but can be crushed, smashed and hit in order to release
the light buried within. This is the "crushing for illumination" referred to in
our verse; after the crushing, which is the suffering that precedes the path of
Torah, a person comes to illumination. From the crushing of the olive light is
revealed; the person merits to see that all of the concealments were for the
sake of good. And therefore, it burned the entire night, for "night" represents
concealment and darkness, which after the crushing becomes illuminated.
This is why it is written, "And they will take for
you."(Ibid.) The Nation of Israel together, unified, will supply the oil for the
Westernmost Lamp. In holy books it is written that the word for "Western," "Ma'aravi,"
comes from the word Me'urav, as in the phrase, "me'urav
im habriyos" – [a person who] mixes well [and gets along] with others.
Each person is important in his own right, although
people’s minds and personalities are different.
Each of the other six Menorah flames were angled
towards the Westernmost Flame, to indicate that all of the flames were equal (in
harmony). This shows that each person is important in his own right, although
people’s minds and personalities are different.
This unity testifies that the Al-mighty manifests
His Shechinah in Israel. Indeed, the word Shechinah is numerically
equal to Safa ['language' in Hebrew]: 385. And so it is written in Zephaniah: "For
then I will change all of the nations to a clear language, for all to call in
the Name of G-d, to serve him with one shoulder." (3:9) So too, the opening word
of this Torah portion, "Tetzaveh" [lit. "you shall command"], is related
to the Aramaic word for "connection" and thus to the unifying process.
The pure oil which burned on the Menorah represents
Torah study. The entire Menorah, --its base, branches, flowers and apples--was
beaten from one piece of gold. Its base represents those who support and help a
Torah Scholar. The knobs are those who are busy with acts of kindness. The
flowers are those who study Torah. All of them are beaten from one piece of gold
so that each one needs the other. So too it is impossible for one person to be
arrogant towards another.
When there is unity, the Menorah shines to the
entire world.
[Delivered orally; translated by David Devor from his notes and extensively edited by KabbalaOnline.org staff.]
LOGIN
ASK THE RABBI
Comment
