Parshat Behaaloscha 5781
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in the beginning of this week’s parsha Hashem tells Moshe to command Aharon to light the Menorah. In describing the lighting, the Torah states (Chapter 8, Pasuk 2), El Mul Pnei Ha’Menorah Ya’Iru Shivas Ha’Neros. Rashi teaches that the six lights should face towards the middle light which is at the center of the Menorah, hence El Mul Pnei Ha’Menorah. Many commentators ask, if this is so, then the pasuk should state Ya’Iru Sheshes Ha’Neros. The six candles, three on either side, face towards the middle light. Why does it say the seven lights face towards the Menorah?
The Medrash Rabbah on the beginning of the parsha (15,8) compares the lighting of the Menorah to the following parable. A king informs his good friend that he would like to come to him for a meal. Would the friend be so kind as to prepare a meal for him? On the assigned day, the king and his entourage enter the house of the friend and lay out the king’s adornments, his candelabra, etc. on the table of his simple friend. When the friend sees the beautiful and exquisite vessels of the king, he is immediately embarrassed and hides everything he has prepared for the king; the food, the vessels upon which he was going to serve the king, everything is put away. When the king sees that nothing is placed before him, he asks his friend, where is the meal he asked him to prepare! The friend responds that he was too embarrassed to serve the king his lowly meal on his lowly vessels, and therefore he hid everything. The king responds back, but I specifically wanted to eat from your food and your vessels, at which point he remove his adornments and partakes exclusively from the meal of his friend.
The Sfas Emes teaches that there are a number of important things we learn from this Medrash. Firstly, we learn that if we really considered who we are and before whom we are commanded to perform mitzvos, we would be too embarrassed to do anything. How can we offer anything to the Master of the Universe! Yet, it is precisely this sense of embarrassment that Hashem wants from us. Our vessels are nothing compared to Hashem’s! And when we have this realization, Hashem, so to speak, tells us, I will put aside my vessels and partake from yours.
The Tikunei Zohar teaches that the word Bereishis contains the same letters as Yare Boshes or Yare Shabbos. This means that the world was created with the understanding that man should have a sense of fear and embarrassment in his relationship with Hashem. And he should have fear and embarrassment when Shabbos comes. The fear and embarrassment should be that we do not do enough and are not worthy enough to merit Shabbos. Shabbos is M’eiyn Olam Haba. Even a Tzaddik must understand he isn’t really worthy of the eternal reward of Olam Haba. All the more so, for all of us to receive Shabbos every week is something we are not worthy of. And it is precisely when we have that sense that we are able to merit the Kedushah of Shabbos.
The Medrash teaches us there are our vessels and the vessels of Hashem. When the pasuk says El Mul Pnei Ha’Menorah Ya’Iru Shivas Ha’Neros, it is referring to the Menorah of Hashem; to His vessels. When the Kohen lights the Menorah, all seven lights face towards the great light of the Menorah of Hashem. As Chazal teach, V’Chi L’Orah Hu Tzarich? Does Hashem need our light? Certainly not! However, the same principle is in play. When we nullify ourselves to Gd and realize our insignificance, then Hashem wants our Avodah; He wants our vessels. Just as the friend is too embarrassed to serve the king on his simple tableware, we too need to feel the same sense of Bushah. And just as when the friend is embarrassed the king insists on eating from his simple fare, similarly Hashems accepts our service to Him when it’s based on humility. And this is when our vessels, the light of the Menorah in the Mishkan, faces toward the great light of the great Menorah in the Olam Ha’Elyon. El Mul Pnei Ha’Menorah Ya’Iru Shivas Ha’Neros.
Good Shabbos
Print this article