By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO — Parashat B’ha-alot’cha begins with the mitzvah of Aaron lighting the Menorah, the seven-branched lampstand which illuminated the Mishkan in the desert and later in the Jerusalem Temple:
“The Lord spoke to Moses saying: Speak to Aaron and say to him, “When you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand.” Aaron did so; he mounted the lamps at the front of the lampstand, as the Lord had commanded Moses.” (Num. 8:1-3)
According to the Talmud the Menorah is a symbol of Torah: just as the Menorah spreads light through the world, so does the Torah.
The medieval commentator, Rashi, makes the following strange observation about the words “When you mount the lamps”: “Our sages taught that from these words we learn that there was a platform in front of the Menorah. The Cohen had to step up on it in order the kindle the lamps.”
We may well wonder: how in the world did the sages learn there was a platform in front of the Menorah from the words “When you mount the lamps?!”
Rabbi Leib Gurvitz had the very same question. He explained that our sages read the Hebrew differently from its obvious meaning. B’ha-a lot’cha et haneirot usually means “When you mount the lamps.” However, the word et can also mean im, or “with.” If you understand the verse this way it reads: “When you go up to light the lamps.” Since Aaron was “going up” to light the Menorah, there obviously had to be a platform he needed to ascend.
Rabbi Gurvitz wrote that this is literal meaning of the verse. However, he then added a spiritual dimension. He reminds us that since the Menorah represents Torah, just as Aaron rose up to light the Menorah, so are we uplifted when we spread Torah and light throughout the world.
When we share God’s love through word and deed with those around us, we not only uplift them but bring ourselves closer to heaven as well.
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Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. You may comment to him at leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com, or post your comment on this website provided the rules below are observed.
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