Friday, June 6, 2014

Parshat Behalotcha- "Don't Give Up Hope"



דבר אל אהרון ואמרת אליו בהעלתך את הנרות אל מול המנורה יאירו שבעת הנרות

Speak to Aaron, and say to him: When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the Menorah. And Aaron did so... (8:2-3).

The Hebrew word for to light is להדליק. The word בהעלותך is a transitive verb, meaning when you elevate. The Torah chooses the latter wording in order to express that a person must always strive to be ascending in holiness. In addition, If the candles, that were only wax, were elevated to a level of קדושה, holiness, how much more so should we, as human beings, made in the image of G-d, strive similarly to rise in holiness.

בהעלותך is therefore a code for life, reminding us that even when we face challenges, we must elevate ourselves and rise to the occasion.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe comments that this is a lesson in pedagogy: one should try to help the learner develop and grow, remaining with him/her until he/she is self-sufficient and can glow independently.

Aaron merited to perform this mitzvah because he elevated himself at the time of the death of his children, Nadav and Avihu (as it is written, in Leviticus 13:3:

Why is this commandment to light the Menorah, placed next to the prior chapter, from Parashat Naso, regarding the princes?

Rashi comments that Aaron saw the princes bringing their offerings and was embarassed that neither he nor his tribe joined them in the dedication of the Tabernacle. Therefore G-d gave him the task of lighting the Menorah.

Rashi also explains that Aaron was required to light the candle by holding the flame to the wick until the flame rises by itself.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe comments that this is a lesson in pedagogy: one should try to help the learner develop and grow, remaining with him/her until he/she is self-sufficient and can glow independently.

Aaron merited to perform this mitzvah because he elevated himself at the time of the death of his children, Nadav and Avihu (as it is written, in Leviticus 13:3:

וידום אהרון

And Aaron was silent

Aaron had to light the candles for the strange fire that his children offered before G-d and for which they were killed (Leviticus 10:1).

Also, why does the Torah begin the Parsha with this commandment?

To teach us that in order to overcome the cravings and loshon hara that come later in the Parsha, the only way we can elevate ourselves is by lighting the candles, i.e. by learning the Torah, which is compared to light.