Vedibarta Bam � And You Shall Speak of Them: Insights on the Menorah

"When you kindle the lamps...." (8:2)

QUESTION: Rashi writes that the Kohen stood on a step "u'meitiv" - cleaned out the ashes and prepared wicks and oil for the kindling of the Menorah. Why doesn't he say "u'madlik" - "and kindled"?

ANSWER: According to halachah, "Hadlakah kesheirah bezar" - "even a non-Kohen, may kindle the lamps, if the Menorah was brought outside" (Rambam, Be'at Hamikdash 9:7). However, preparing the wicks of the Menorah must be performed only by a Kohen. Thus, Rashi uses the expression "meitiv" - "prepared" - without saying that the Kohen kindled the lamps.

King Shlomo says, "The soul of man is a candle of G-d (Proverbs 20:27). Every Jew must see to it that his candle shines brightly and also assure that another Jew's candle is lit. This is accomplished by studying Torah, doing mitzvot, and inspiring others to do likewise.

"Hadlakah kesheirah bezar" - every Jew must kindle the flame of his neshamah as well as the neshamah of another Jew but only a "Kohen" - a true Jewish leader - is qualified to do "hatavah" - determine the authentic path of the Torah.

"And this is the workmanship of the Menorah, beaten out gold." (8:3)

QUESTION: Rashi writes that Moshe had difficulty understanding the making of the Menorah. What couldn't Moshe comprehend about the Menorah?

ANSWER: One of the esoteric interpretations of the Menorah is that it symbolized Klal Yisrael. (See Likkutei Torah, Beha'alotecha.)

The Menorah was kindled with pure olive oil. According to the Gemara (Menachot 85b) olive oil is associated with knowledge.

Throughout the long exile, the Jewish people were scattered to all corners of the world. Wherever they sojourned, the country benefited immensely from their wisdom, intellect, and creativity. Nevertheless, anti-Semitism usually prevailed, and the Jewish people, who enhanced the country, were beaten and persecuted.

This strange phenomenon puzzled Moshe. The Jewish people, who have contributed so much to humanity through their intellect and wisdom, should be cherished and appreciated by all. Instead they were being persecuted!?

"And this is the workmanship of the Menorah, hammered out gold." (8:4)

QUESTION: Regarding the Chatzotrot - two trumpets - which were used to gather together K'lal Yisrael or the princes of the tribes, the Torah prescribed that "Mikshah ta'aseh otom" - "make them hammered out" (Bamidbar 10:2). Of the Cheruvim placed on top of the Ark, the Torah instructs "Mikshah ta'aseh otom" - "hammered out shall you make them" (Shemot 25:18).

Why were the trumpets, the cheruvim on top of the Ark (Shemot 25:18), and the Menorah all made "mikshah" - hammered out?

ANSWER: The word "mikshah" stems from the word "kashah" - "difficult." Hammering something out from a piece of metal is quite difficult and laborious.

The Cheruvim were images of children (see Shemot 25:18, Rashi). The Menorah represents Torah and mitzvot, as stated: "For a mitzvah is a lamp and Torah is light" (Proverbs 6:23). The trumpets were used to gather together and unite K'lal Yisrael or the princes of the tribes.

Raising children successfully, progressing in Torah, and assuring that one's children remain attached and focused on the Ark - Torah - is not easily achieved. To unite K'lal Yisrael or the princes of the tribes is not an easy task. To learn Torah, observe mitzvot, and live an authentic Torah lifestyle requires much effort and dedication. Each one of the three is "kashah" - "difficult" - and each requires "mikshah" - "hammering" - much laborious effort.

"According the image that Hashem showed Moshe, so did he make the Menorah." (8:4)

QUESTION: Rashi (Shemot 25:40) writes that "Moshe was perplexed by the construction of the Menorah until Hashem showed him a Menorah of fire." Why was it so difficult for Moshe to comprehend the making of the Menorah?

ANSWER: Regarding "Binah" - "understanding" - the Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 21b) says that "Fifty gates of understanding were created in the world; all but one, were given to Moshe."

The Menorah represents Torah wisdom, as the Gemara (Bava Batra 25b) says, "One who wishes to become knowledgeable should face south during his prayers. The way to remember this rule is that the Menorah is on the south side." With its lights it is symbolic of Torah knowledge, as King Shlomo says in Proverbs (6:23), "For the mitzvah is a candle, and the Torah is light." (Rabbeinu Gershon, ibid.)

On the Menorah there were seven branches, eleven knobs, nine flowers and twenty two goblets - a total of forty nine items, corresponding to the 49 gates of understanding. The central shaft of the Menorah, from which everything projected, corresponded to the fiftieth gate of understanding.

Since the Menorah represents the fifty gates of understanding and Moshe attained only 49, it was difficult for him to comprehend the pattern of the Menorah until Hashem showed him a fiery image of it.

"See and construct, according to their form that you are shown on the mountain." (Shemot 25:40)

QUESTION: How did Hashem relieve Moshe's difficulty in comprehending the construction of the Menorah by telling him that he should construct it according to the form he was shown on the mountain?

ANSWER: Moshe's difficulty stemmed from the fact that the Menorah represented the 50 gates of wisdom and he only attained 49 (see above). According to the Arizal (Likkutei Torah, Va'etchanan) when Moshe was on the mountain with Hashem he achieved the comprehension of all the 50 gates of wisdom. Moshe retained this exalted state up to the time when the Jews sinned with the golden calf. At that time Moshe was together with Hashem on the mountain, and Hashem said to him "Leich, reid" - "Go, descend [for your nation that you have brought up from Egypt has degenerated Shemot 32:7]. Rashi writes that Hashem told Moshe "Reid migdulatecha" - "Descend from your greatness." The word "leich" - has the numerical value of 50. Hashem told Moshe, "Now that your people have degenerated, descend from your greatness. Until now you achieved comprehension of all 50 gates of wisdom and from now on, reid - go down - from leich - the 50 gates you formerly achieved and you will now only have 49."

Moshe conveyed to the people Hashem's command concerning the construction of the Tabernacle and its vessels on the day after Yom Kippur, which was some three months after they sinned with the golden calf. At this time he no longer had the knowledge of the fiftieth gate of wisdom and therefore experienced difficulty in comprehending the concept of Menorah.

Hence, Hashem said to Moshe, "You already were shown it on the mountain and at that time you comprehended it very well since you had reached the 50th gate. Therefore, though you are currently lacking comprehension of the 50th gate you should be able to construct it."

Incidentally, this fits very well into the terminology used in the Gemara. "There are 50 gates of wisdom and 'kulam nitnu l'Moshe chaseir achat' - 'they were all given to Moshe, less one." It does not say that he was given only 49 of the 50, rather, "kulam nitnu l'Moshe" - all of them i.e. the entire 50 were given to Moshe, "less one" - although one was taken back from him afterward when the Jews sinned with the golden calf.