B"H

Monday, Sivan 13, 5785 / June 9, 2025

This week's Parsha, Beha'alotcha, begins with G-d's instructions to Aaron, (the High Priest), concerning the lighting of the Menorah in the Mishkan (Tabernacle).  However, instead of using the word "Lehadlik" to "kindle," the Torah uses the word "Beha'alotcha" which means, "When you elevate the candles."

Torah commentaries suggest many solutions. Some say that Aaron had to climb several steps in order to light the Menorah. Thus, he had to be elevated in order to light the Menorah.

Q.The Menorah was not high, why did he have to go up a few steps?

A.Aaron wore a gold plate on his forehead with G-d's name engraved on it.  Therefore, he was not permitted to lift his hands beyond the plate. Thus, he had to go up the steps to kindle the Menorah.

Another explanation is that the lights of the Menorah represent the Jewish soul - the Neshama, which is compared to a candle.  Just as the flame of the candle continually flickers upward, so too, the Neshama is drawn "upward" to be connected with G-d, its creator. Aaron's mission as High Priest, was to spiritually uplift and connect the Jewish souls to G-d, just as the flame of the candle continuously strives to go upward.

The Zohar asks, why, when a Jew studies Torah or prays, he sways back and forth? 

The Zohar replies, "The Jewish soul is derived from G-d's Holy fire.  When it studies Torah or is involved in prayer, the soul is connected to its source and like the flame of a candle, the soul, which is G-d's candle, also moves.

The Midrash tells us that the commandment to light the Menorah in the Holy Temple surprised the Jewish people.  They said, "Is there any darkness before G-d that He needs our light?"

G-d replied, "It is not for My benefit that I command you to kindle the light in the Temple.  It is for your merit."  The Menorah in the Temple brought spiritual light to the Jewish nation and to the entire world.

Before the days of electricity, Russia's main streets were lit by kerosene lamps. Each night, a city employee would make the rounds and light these lamps to illuminate the streets. 

"The function of a Jew is to be a lamp-lighter," said Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber of Lubavitch. "It is not enough to feel spiritually enlightened yourself, one must also use their spiritual fire to light up the candle/soul of another Jew by bringing them closer to G-d through Torah and Mitzvot."

In addition to physically lighting the lights in the Menorah, Aaron’s function was to elevate the Jewish souls. This is why the Torah uses the word, “Beha'alotcha” – to ELEVATE.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW